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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

January 26, 1991 · Cessna T210M · N210TW

Sacramento, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 26, 1991
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Sacramento, CA
Aircraft
Cessna T210M
Tail Number
N210TW
Operator
Truax Thomas N
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX91FA081

The pilot was returning to his home airport from a four hour round-robin flight with on landing and takeoff en route. The fuel tanks were full at the first takeoff and no fuel had been added. The aircraft's fuel quantity at the time of the accident was calculated to be 25 gallons. The pilot reported he had lost the engine approximately 1/2 mile from the runway. A witness observed the aircraft's nose raise and the aircraft enter into a steep descending right turn before it collided with the ground. A post-crash engine operational test did not disclose any evidence of a failure or malfunction that would have resulted in an engine failure. The aircraft's right wing tank was ruptured during the impact sequence. The left tank was leaking and only 5 gallons of fuel was recovered. The position of the fuel selector handle in the cockpit pointed toward the right fuel tank. The fuel selector valve was found positioned between the off and left tank position when removed.

NTSB Probable Cause

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT WAS RETURNING TO HIS HOME AIRPORT FROM A FOUR HOUR ROUND-ROBIN FLIGHT WITH ON LANDING AND TAKEOFF EN ROUTE. THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL AT THE FIRST TAKEOFF AND NO FUEL HAD BEEN ADDED. THE AIRCRAFT'S FUEL QUANTITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 25 GALLONS. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD LOST THE ENGINE APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE RAISE AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTER INTO A STEEP DESCENDING RIGHT TURN BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. A POST-CRASH ENGINE OPERATIONAL TEST DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY EVIDENCE OF A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING TANK WAS RUPTURED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THE LEFT TANK WAS LEAKING AND ONLY 5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS RECOVERED. THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE IN THE COCKPIT POINTED TOWARD THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND POSITIONED BETWEEN THE OFF AND LEFT TANK POSITION WHEN REMOVED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:36 PST
Nearest AirportSacramento Exec (0nm)
Runway3
Runway Length3334 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T210M
Tail NumberN210TW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorTruax Thomas N
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-520-R · Reciprocating · 310
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 7 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time23:37
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data