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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 31, 1994 · Cessna 210L · N76GH

Pahokee, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 31, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Pahokee, FL
Aircraft
Cessna 210L
Tail Number
N76GH
Operator
Mercy Flight
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA94LA152

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH WITH A SAFETY OBSERVER. HE STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT UNSUCCESSFULLY. HE THEN EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING TO A LAKE. THE AIRPLANE WAS RECOVERED AND THE RIGHT TANK HAD NO FUEL AND THE LEFT TANK HAD 18 GALLONS. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT POSITION. THE ENGINE WAS DRIED AND THE ENGINE RAN ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT TANK SELECTOR POSITIONS WITH FUEL PROVIDED TO THE LINES.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE IMPROPER POSITIONING OF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WHICH CAUSED AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AT AN ALTITUDE TOO LOW FOR RESTART PROCEDURES.

Full Narrative

On May 31, 1994, about 1215 eastern daylight time, N76GH, a Cessna 210L registered to Mercy Flight Inc., crashed in Pahokee, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot and an observer reported no injuries. The flight had originated about 1 hour earlier. The pilot stated that the engine failed about 1,500 feet msl and his attempt to restart it was unsuccessful. He then ditched the airplane in Lake Okeechobee about 1/2 mile from the Pahokee Airport, Pahokee, Florida. The airplane fuel system was examined after recovery and the right tank contained no fuel and was full of water, and the left tank contained about 18 gallons of fuel and the rest was water. The fuel selector was found on the left tank position. The airplane was taken to a local airport, water was drained from the engine and the magnetos and sparkplugs were air dried. A 5-gallon fuel can was mounted on the roof of the cabin and was connected to both fuel lines from the wing. The engine was started and ran on both the left and right fuel selector positions.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:15 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210L
Tail NumberN76GH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMercy Flight
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-L · Reciprocating · 300
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 64 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind110° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data