# NTSB NYC89LA012: Cessna P210, N400JL, Collegeville, PA, October 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1988, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: Collegeville, PA
- Coordinates: 40.18008, -75.450294 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1801&lon=-75.4503&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36323
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36323/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - residence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS ARRIVING TO LAND, HE ENTERED LEFT TRAFFIC & MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK. SHORTLY AFTER MOVING THE FUEL SELECTOR, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THOUGH IT WAS FUEL STARVED. HE SAID HE OPERATED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP & SWITCHED FUEL TANKS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENG, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE SAID HE SOUGHT TO AVOID NEARBY HOUSES & TRIED TO LAND IN A CLEARING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE CORNER OF A HOUSE, THEN THE ACFT CRASHED & BURNED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N400JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400JL-1992-02-20), registration cancelled 1992-02-20, S/N P21000412 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA P210
- Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: P21000412
- Airframe hours: 1733
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-P 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Jem Start,Inc.
- Registered owner: Jem Start, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 14, 1988, 18 hours before
- Departed: ELZ, WELLSVILLE, NY
- Destination: N10
- Airport: N10, Perkiomen, runway 9, 2,883 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 854 total, 96 in this make and model, 615 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19881016047359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881016047359A), Oct 16, 1988: Cessna P210N, Collegeville, PA, Destroyed. Engine quit in pattern. Struck a house and burned short of runway. May have run a tank dry and no restart on other.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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