Cessna 210 N6564X

Summary

On 27 April 2012 at about 19:20 local time, a Cessna 210 registered N6564X was involved in an accident near Fowler's Bluff, Florida, United States. 3 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

27 April 2012 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Fowler's Bluff, Florida, United States

Coordinates

29.3883, -83.0217

Aircraft

Cessna 210

Registration

N6564X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Palm Beach → Tallahassee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12LA306

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight about 3,000 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing. Subsequent examination revealed that the airplane's right main fuel tank was devoid of fuel and the left main fuel tank contained about 25 gallons of fuel. The fuel selector valve in the cockpit was found in the "OFF" position, and it was not possible to determine which fuel tank was selected when the engine lost power. Examination of the vegetation surrounding the accident location did not reveal any evidence of damage due to postaccident fuel leakage. Postaccident examination of the airplane, including an engine test run, did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Because the right tank had no fuel, it is likely that the fuel selector valve was selected to the right fuel tank, which resulted in all of the fuel in the right wing fuel tank being consumed and the subsequent total loss of engine power. Following the loss of engine power, even if the pilot had selected the left fuel wing tank, due to the airplane’s proximity to the ground, the fuel likely did not have time to reach the engine for an engine restart.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.