# NTSB WPR23LA318: Cessna T210M, N7067Z, Indian Creek, ID, August 5, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 5, 2023, 16:41 local (22:41 UTC)
- Place: Indian Creek, ID · Indian Creek USFS Airport
- Coordinates: 44.761139, -115.10736
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7611&lon=-115.1074&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192906
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA318
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192906/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192906
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA318

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation, and gear up landing on a dirt airstrip.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [Cessna T210M, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2073451), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the airplane reported that, while enroute, the engine was running rough and the airplane subsequently lost power. His attempts to restore power were unsuccessful. Due to high airspeed and low altitude the pilot elected to land gear up on a dirt airstrip which resulted in substantial damage to the underside of the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed 18 gallons of fuel in the right fuel tank and the left fuel tank was void of fuel; neither fuel tank was breached. The operator of the airplane reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7067Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7067Z-2024-11-30), registration cancelled 2024-11-30, S/N 21062572, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210M
- Registry model: [Cessna T210M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210m) (registry code 2073451) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21062572
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 13035.1
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Gem Air, Lcc
- Registered owner: Spirit Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 11, 2023, 2.5 hours before
- Departed: KSMN, Salmon, ID
- Destination: KBOI, Boise, ID
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: S81, Indian Creek Usfs, runway 04, 4,650 × 40 ft, dirt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,369 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,338 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KLLJ, 41 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLLJ 051755Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 20/12 A3025

## 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 20230805010539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230805010539A), Aug 5, 2023: Cessna T210M, Yellow Pine, ID, Substantial damage. The engine had 1.3 hours since rebuild by the oem. The dom reported trouble attaining the proper engine parameters, requiring 15-20 separate test runs to…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192906. 6.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16315425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20WPR23LA318%20Indian%20Creek,%20ID%20N7067Z_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (operator) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16315181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20OPS%20info%20WPR23LA318%20Indian%20Creek,%20ID%20N7067Z_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Passenger phone conversation and email (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 225 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16316083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Passenger%20Phone%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Fueler information and statement (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16314860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=08.05.2023%20flight%20information%20fuler%20statement-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 874 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16345490&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20of%20WPR23LA318-Rel.pdf

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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