# NTSB SEA95LA174: Cessna T210K, N8273M, Bliss, ID, August 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1995, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Bliss, ID - Coordinates: 42.989765, -114.950149 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9898&lon=-114.9501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42214 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42214/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA174 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE FUEL SYSTEM TO AVOID RUNNING A TANK DRY AT A LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SLUG HABITAT SURVEY FLIGHT AT 0700 WITH THE LEFT FUEL TANK TOPPED (44.3 GALLONS) AND THE RIGHT TANK SELECTED (25 GALLONS). 1.3 HOURS LATER, AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE STOPPED WHEN THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK WAS EXHAUSTED. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE FULL LEFT TANK AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART. THE RESTART WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL WITHIN THE ALTITUDE/TIME AVAILABLE, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A CORN FIELD WHICH WAS THE BEST AVAILABLE LANDING SITE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHEEL CROSSED A DEEP RUT AND SEPARATED, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. ## Factual narrative On August 7, 1995, approximately 0820 hours mountain daylight time, a Cessna T210K, N8273M, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a forced landing in a corn field following a total loss of power while in cruise near Bliss, Idaho. The commercial pilot and passenger were uninjured. The flight, which was for aerial observation, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and originated from Boise, Idaho, approximately 0700 hours. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported in a telephone interview that the aircraft departed Boise with the left fuel tank topped (44.3 gallons) and with 25 gallons in the right fuel tank. She stated that after about 1.3 hours of flight on the right fuel tank, and while the aircraft was operating about 700 feet AGL while conducting a slug habitat survey, the engine abruptly ceased operating and she was unable to achieve a restart in the minimal altitude available after selecting the left fuel tank. She then selected an agricultural (corn) field as her only suitable landing site and executed an intentional forced landing. During the landing roll through the corn the aircraft's nose wheel crossed a deep rut in the terrain and separated. The aircraft nosed over immediately thereafter. On site examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the left fuel tank was nearly full whereas the right tank was nearly empty and that the fuel selector was positioned to select the left tank (refer to attached statement). A post crash engine run was accomplished with no discrepancies noted on August 31, 1995 (refer to attached statement). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8273M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8273M-2018-07-13), registration cancelled 2018-07-13, S/N 21059273, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T210K - Registry model: [Cessna T210K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210k) (registry code 2073447) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GTSIO-520-C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-gtsio-520-c) (registry code 17035, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21059273 - Airframe hours: 3449 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520H 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Registered owner: Scott Patrick - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1995, 84 hours before - Departed: BOI, BOISE, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,150 total, 100 in this make and model, 940 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MUO, 33 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950807046979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950807046979A), Aug 7, 1995: Cessna T210K, Bliss, ID, Substantial damage. On survey flight. Ran one tank dry. Unable restart on other. Nosed over landing. History of same. Unexplained. ## Other investigations on N8273M (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR16LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA008), Oct 13, 2015: Cessna T210K (N8273M), Boise, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper in-flight fuel management due to distraction and self-induced pressure, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the… - [NTSB LAX88LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA291), Jul 25, 1988: Cessna T210K (N8273M), Huntington Bch, CA, substantial damage 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.