# NTSB NYC89LA205: Cessna 210N, N873PJ, Westerly, RI, August 31, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1989, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Westerly, RI
- Location: 41.3733° N, 71.8068° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westerly, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3733&lon=-71.8068&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36471
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36471/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA205

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY ENSURE A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - to cruise
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DID NOT VISUAL CHECK THE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS BUT DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE LEFT TANK HAD 20 GALLONS REMAINING THROUGH THE FUEL TOTALIZER AND THE MECHANIC'S WORD. DURING A STEEP CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE MISSED AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SELECTED LEFT TANK AND TURNED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP SWITCH ON. TEN MINUTES LATER THE ENGINE STOPPED COMPLETELY AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN THE OCEAN. THE AIRPLANE SANK AND WAS NOT RECOVERED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N873PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N873PJ-1991-03-13), registration cancelled 1991-03-13, S/N 21064769 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 210N
- Registry model: [Cessna 210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-210n) (registry code 2073453) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 210064769
- Airframe hours: 750
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nicholas A. Heineman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1989, 1 hours before
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Destination: WST, WESTERLY, RI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,476 total, 940 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## 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 19890831033149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890831033149A), Aug 31, 1989: Cessna 210N, Westerly, RI, Destroyed. No fuel at repair airport. Gauges showed right tank empty left 20 gallons. Departed. Engine quit. Ditched off shore

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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