# NTSB NYC97LA029: Cessna T210M, N1929M, Charlottesville, VA, December 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 1996, 13:58 local (18:58 UTC) - Place: Charlottesville, VA - Coordinates: 38.090095, -78.559898 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0901&lon=-78.5599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39309/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA029 ## Probable cause The pilot's miscalculation of fuel consumption and his inadequate in-flight decision making, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis While en route at 11,500 feet msl, the pilot encountered 'severe' headwinds and decided to divert to Charlottesville to refuel. About 2 to 3 minutes into his descent for Charlottesville, the engine lost power. The pilot switched from the left to right fuel tank and power was restored; however, later at 4,500 feet msl, a second power loss occurred. Unable to glide to the airport, the pilot executed a forced landing to a cow pasture, about 1 mile short the airport. FAA examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks were empty. The pilot reported the accident could have been prevented by 'proper fuel calculating along with a fuel computer installed, because of the frequency-distances-complexity of the average mission.' ## Factual narrative On December 14, 1996, about 1358 eastern standard time, a Cessna T210M, N1929M, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landed near Charlottesville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot and two passenger were not injured; three passengers received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed Greenville, South Carolina, destined for Leesburg, Virginia, and conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, while en route at 11,500 feet msl, he encountered "severe" headwinds and decided to divert to Charlottesville to refuel because "I don't ever like going below 10 gallons per side." The pilot reported that 2 to 3 minutes into his descent for Charlottesville, the engine lost power. He switched from the left to right fuel tank and power was restored; however, at 4,500 feet msl, a second loss of power occurred. Unable to glide to the airport, the pilot executed a forced landing to a cow pasture, about 1 mile short of the airport. FAA examination of the airplane revealed the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot reported the accident could have been prevented by "proper fuel calculating along with a fuel computer installed because of the frequency-distances-complexity of the average mission." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1929M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1929M-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 21061966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T210M - Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21061966 - Airframe hours: 2171 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520R 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: L And B Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1996, 268 hours before - Departed: 7A1, GREENVILLE, SC - Destination: JYO, LEESBURG, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,453 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,384 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 40 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19961214039379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961214039379A), Dec 14, 1996: Cessna T210M, Charlottesville, VA, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed in a field, ran out of fuel. (-23) 12/14/96 aircraft departed greenville, SC VFR enroute to leesburg, VA. Six people on board. Pilot elected… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.