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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

September 9, 1995 · Cessna 210F · N1851F

Montrose, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 9, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Montrose, CO
Aircraft
Cessna 210F
Tail Number
N1851F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA385

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SMALL FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. A FIREMAN NOTED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT TANK, BUT NO FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE SALVAGE COMPANY SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE ENGINE FUEL LINE, NOR WAS THERE ANY FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK LINE. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE BOOST PUMP TURNED ON, NO FUEL WAS EJECTED. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 3.9 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S INATTENTIVENESS TO THE LOW FUEL SUPPLY AND HIS FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

Full Narrative

On September 9, 1995, at 0823 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210F, N1851F, was substantially damaged during a forced landing at Montrose, Colorado. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at Montrose, CO, approximately 0725 MDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The pilot said he did three touch and go landings on runway 13 when the active runway was switched to runway 31. Two airplanes were waiting to take off and the pilot elected to make "a wide clockwise turn off my crosswind pattern and circle back" to the runway. The engine lost power during this turn. The airplane was over the town of Montrose and the only open area was a small field next to a drive-in theater. During the ensuing forced landing, the airplane collided with trees and impacted terrain. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector that he had been flying on the left fuel tank and when the engine lost power, he switched the fuel selector to the right tank but the engine did not respond. The owner told the inspector that there was fuel on board the airplane at the time of the accident. A fireman said he observed fuel leaking from the right tank, but no fuel leaking from the left tank. The manager of the salvage company that retrieved the airplane said there was no fuel in the engine fuel line when it was disconnected. Additionally, he found no fuel in the left fuel tank line. When the fuel selector was positioned on the left tank and the boost pump turned on, no fuel was ejected. Records indicated that, excluding the accident flight, the airplane had flown 3.9 hours since it was last refueled. Four days after the accident, the engine was functionally tested under the supervision of the FAA inspector. Drawing from the fuel remaining in the right fuel tank, the engine operated normally.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:23 MDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210F
Tail NumberN1851F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 34 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data