Cessna P210N N6394W

Summary

On 26 September 1997 at about 19:45 local time, a Cessna P210N registered N6394W was involved in an accident near Creswell, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 September 1997 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Creswell, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Hobby (77S)

Coordinates

43.9008, -123.0202

Aircraft

Cessna P210N

Registration

N6394W

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palo Alto → Seattle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA216

2 people had minor injuries.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.