Cessna T210N N214BD

Summary

On 8 December 1995 at about 10:00 local time, a Cessna T210N registered N214BD was involved in an accident near Modesto, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 December 1995 at 10:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Modesto, California, United States

Coordinates

37.6294, -120.9690

Aircraft

Cessna T210N

Registration

N214BD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Phoenix → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX96LA068

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, due to an inadequate supply of fuel, followed by a forced landing in an area of trees. Darkness was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed Modesto with 90 gallons of fuel. He first flew to Fresno to pickup some passengers, and then to Phoenix. In Phoenix, he requested the right tank be filled and that half that amount be added to the left tank. The fuel receipt showed that a total of 45 gallons were added. The pilot said he did not visually check the fuel levels. While passing Bakersfield, he noticed his fuel gauges indicated a higher than expected rate of fuel consumption and reduced the power setting. Nearing his destination, the pilot began switching tanks until both ran dry. The engine quit about 4 to 5 miles from the runway, resulting in a forced landing in an almond orchard. The pilot said that by his calculations, he had sufficient fuel onboard to complete the flight. The engine tachometer showed 6.9 total hours for the entire flight. Performance charts revealed a similar flight would require at least 130 gallons of usable fuel without reserves. Fuel records showed a total of 132 gallons of usable fuel had been available. An AD to prevent loss of engine power caused by inadvertent fuel loss or inadequate fuel servicing was accomplished on 1/19/95. In accordance with the AD, the operator had recalibrated the fuel gauges, placed placards on the fuel filler ports, and revised the pilot operating procedures in the POH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.