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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 25, 2013 · Cessna 210-5(205) · N8472Z

Weatherford, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 25, 2013
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Weatherford, OK
Aircraft
Cessna 210-5(205) (1963)
Tail Number
N8472Z
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13LA565

The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during a descent to the planned destination airport. The pilot reported that, before departure, he had fuel added to the preexisting fuel onboard the airplane, which he "confirmed" during the preflight inspection by looking at the fuel gauges. He did not visually inspect the fuel tanks. He entered the amount of added fuel into a fuel totalizer, and the totalizer indicated that the total amount of fuel on board was greater than the amount of fuel needed for the flight. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed about 3 to 4 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and less than 1 gallon of fuel in the right fuel tank. Because the pilot did not visually verify the amount of fuel onboard the airplane, the fuel totalizer likely showed an inaccurate amount of fuel and led to the pilot's belief that he had sufficient fuel for the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection and fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during descent.

Full Narrative

On September 25, 2013, about 1200 central daylight time, a Cessna 205, N8472Z, experienced a total loss of engine power during a visual descent to Thomas P. Stafford Airport (OJA), Weatherford, Oklahoma. The pilot performed an off airport landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from Cheyenne Regional Airport/Jerry Olson Field (CYS), Cheyenne, Wyoming, about 0700 mountain daylight time and was destined to OJA. The pilot stated that on September 24, 2013, he had 35 gallons of fuel added to airplane. He said after refueling, the total fuel on board was 75 gallons. On the day of the accident, he preflighted the airplane and entered the fuel added in the fuel totalizer for a total of 74.3 gallons, which he confirmed with the airplane fuel gauges. He said that the planned flight would use 52 gallons of fuel and the time en route to OJA was 3:46 hours. During the flight and about 1140, he began a descent during which the "engine sputtered." He switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank, and the engine ran "smoothly." The pilot stated that at this time, there was about 17 gallons of fuel remaining and 57 gallons that been used and the airplane fuel gauges showed "fuel remaining" in the left fuel tank. He continued the descent, and the engine quit about 4,000 feet mean sea level. He turned the boost pump on and turned the airplane toward OJA. He then decided to land on a field west of OJA. After landing, the fuel totalizer indicated 15.7 gallons of fuel remaining and 58.6 gallons of fuel used. The pilot stated that his recommendation of how the accident could have been avoided was: "Top off when refueling if possible instead of just replacing fuel used, gives known quantity, plus additional margin of safety." During a post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, approximately 3-4 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing fuel tank and less than 1 gallon of fuel was drained from the right wing fuel tank.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:00 CDT
Nearest AirportThomas P Stafford Airport (0nm WNW)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 210-5(205)
Tail NumberN8472Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-F-C-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50
Altimeter29.92 inHg
Observation Time16:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data