- Date
- October 26, 2003, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Swanton, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N5452VCessna 210N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FA FSDO-25
- FAA report
- 20031026029229A
- Case key
- 58235
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper fuel tank selection, which resulted in fuel starvation, and subsequent loss of engine power.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was on approach to land after a flight of about 4.5 hours, when it experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane flipped over. Examination of the airplane, which included the ignition and fuel systems, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. It was noted that the right fuel tank was compromised and an undetermined amount of fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area around the left fuel tank. The pilot reported that he conducted the flight alternating between the right and left fuel tanks, and the left fuel tank was selected at the time the engine lost power.
Factual narrative
On October 26, 2003, about 1520 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210N, N5452V, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Swanton, Ohio, while on approach to the Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Toledo, Ohio. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed the Norwood Memorial Airport (OWD), Norwood, Massachusetts. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that the airplane was cleared for a visual approach to runway 25, and he began a decent from 3,000 feet. As the pilot lowered the landing gear, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot switched the fuel selector position from the left tank to the right tank, and activated the auxiliary fuel pump. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field about 2 miles east of TOL. During the landing, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane flipped over.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. Rotation of both magnetos produced spark on all twelve spark plug electrodes. The auxiliary fuel pump was activated and a "short burst of fuel" was observed in the inlet hose to the fuel distributor. The right fuel tank was compromised and an undetermined amount of fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area around the left fuel tank.
According to an FAA air traffic control summary, the pilot departed OWD about 1040, and was cleared for the visual approach to runway 25, at 1516.
The pilot reported he topped off the airplane's fuel tanks with 38.3 gallons of aviation gasoline prior to takeoff. The pilot further stated he conducted the flight alternating between the right and left fuel tanks.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5452V
- Reported as
- Cessna 210N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21064316
- Airframe hours
- 2,347
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-L1B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard L. Munk
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 13, 2002 · 59 hours before
- Departed
- OWD · Norwood, MA
- Destination
- TOL · Toledo, OH
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- TOL · Toledo Express, runway 25, 10,600 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 7, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,364 total · 733 in this make and model · 1,320 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,900 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- TOL, 2 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.