# NTSB SEA97LA216: Cessna P210N, N6394W, Creswell, OR, September 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1997, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Creswell, OR - Coordinates: 43.900802, -123.020225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9008&lon=-123.0202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42696/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management in which the fuel selector was positioned on tank with inadequate fuel resulting in fuel starvation. Also causal was the pilot's failure to perform the pilot operating handbook 'engine failure in flight' procedure. A factor was a ditch in the forced landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation - emergency procedure - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he moved the fuel selector from 'both' to 'right' and did not subsequently reposition it from 'right', resulting in fuel starvation as the aircraft cruised at 16,000 feet about 3 hours after takeoff. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and was directed to a nearby airport where he attempted a forced landing; however, he was not successful in reaching the airport runway. In the ensuing forced landing, the airplane struck a ditch and flipped over, coming to rest in a field near the runway. Post-accident examination found 35 gallons of fuel in the left tank, no fuel in the right tank, and the fuel selector positioned to 'right.' Pilot's operating handbook (POH) data indicate the airplane takes approximately 15 minutes to descend from 16,000 feet to the emergency airport elevation (535 feet above mean sea level) in a descent at best glide speed (approximately 85 knots indicated airspeed) with propeller windmilling and flaps and gear up. The POH 'engine failure in flight' procedure directs the pilot to check fuel quantity and place the fuel selector on the fullest tank. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1997, approximately 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna P210N, N6394W, owned by the private pilot-in-command, experienced a loss of engine power approximately 25 miles south-southeast of Eugene, Oregon, while cruising at 16,000 feet on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight from Palo Alto, California to Boeing Field/King County International Airport, Seattle, Washington. The pilot subsequently attempted to execute a forced landing at Hobby Airport in Creswell, Oregon, but was not successful in reaching the airport runway. In the ensuing forced landing at about 1245, the aircraft flipped inverted and was substantially damaged, and the pilot and a passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions, with light rain, were reported at Eugene, Oregon (approximately 14 nautical miles northwest of Hobby Field) at 1256. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91. The pilot's NTSB accident report stated that the flight departed Palo Alto at 0930, 3 hours before the loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he departed with 690 pounds of fuel on board divided between two main wing tanks and a 30 gallon rear auxiliary tank, equivalent to about 7 hours flight time, and that the estimated time enroute from Palo Alto to Boeing Field was 4 hours and 15 minutes. The pilot stated that soon after departure, the fuel selector was switched from "both" to "right" and was not subsequently moved out of "right", resulting in fuel starvation. The pilot declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and asked for assistance to the nearest airport. ATC initially vectored the pilot to Cottage Grove State Airport, approximately 8 nautical miles south of Hobby, but upon learning that Cottage Grove State was temporarily closed for maintenance, redirected the pilot to Hobby Airport. The pilot reported that as he turned onto final approach for Hobby runway 15, he noted a road perpendicular to and about 150 yards short of the runway threshold. The pilot stated that at that time, it appeared to him that there were power lines running along the crossing road (the power lines actually go underground directly under the final approach.) The pilot stated that he "tried unsuccessfully to maintain enough altitude to clear the perceived power lines." Post-accident examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the aircraft initially contacted the road pavement, then went into a ditch between the road and an open field. The aircraft's nose wheel separated, its right main gear folded back and the aircraft nosed over in the forced landing sequence. The aircraft came to rest in the open field, 60 feet from the initial impact point and about 75 to 100 yards to the left of the runway. The FAA inspector who examined the airplane at the accident scene reported that he found approximately 35 gallons of fuel in the airplane's left tank, no fuel in the airplane's right tank, and the airplane's fuel selector valve set to right tank. The pilot reported on his NTSB accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. The Cessna P210N pilot's operating handbook (POH) amplified "Engine Failure" procedure states: "...While gliding toward a suitable landing area, an effort should be made to identify the cause of the failure. If time permits, an engine restart should be attempted as shown in the checklist...." The "Engine Failure During Flight" checklist, according to the POH, is: 1) airspeed-85 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS); 2) fuel quantity-check; 3) fuel selector valve-fuller tank; 4) mixture-RICH (if fuel flow is deficient); 5) auxiliary fuel pump-ON for 3-5 seconds with throttle 1/2 open, then OFF; 6) ignition switch-BOTH (or START if propeller is stopped); 7) throttle-advance slowly. According to the maximum glide chart (Figure 3-1) presented in the "Engine Failure" amplified procedure in the Cessna P210N POH, in a glide from 16,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to ground level (535 feet MSL at Hobby) at 85 KIAS with propeller windmilling and gear and flaps up, ground distance covered is approximately 24 nautical miles, yielding an average descent rate of approximately 1,033 feet per minute and a glide time of approximately 14.9 minutes. On his NTSB accident report, the pilot recommended "pilot emergency training" as a means by which the accident could have been prevented. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6394W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6394W-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N P21000765, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P210N - Registry model: [Cessna P210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p210n) (registry code 2073454) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P21000765 - Airframe hours: 2835 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-AF 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregory S. Lewis - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 20, 1997, 48 hours before - Departed: PAO, PALO ALTO, CA - Destination: BFI, SEATTLE, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 77S, Hobby, runway 15 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 894 total, 92 in this make and model, 806 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EUG, 14 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 19970926029159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970926029159A), Sep 26, 1997: Cessna P210N, Creswell, OR, Substantial damage. Lost power enroute. Flipped over landing fuel selector on empty tank. Fuel in other. (.4)the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff he moved the fuel… 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.