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Casualties unknown

Forced Landing After Engine Failure on Final Approach (N6178N)

Long Beach, CA, US

On May 30, 1988, a Cessna T210M (registration N6178N) was involved in an aviation accident near Long Beach, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, resulting in an in-flight engine shutdown due to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-19Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced an in-flight engine shutdown while on final approach to the runway, resulting in a forced landing where the empennage struck the airport boundary fence before impacting terrain and nosing over.

What happened

The pilot was conducting a flight operation when the engine ceased functioning while the aircraft was established on final approach to the runway. In response to the power loss, the pilot executed a forced landing procedure. During the rollout or impact sequence, the empennage of the airplane contacted the airport boundary fence. The aircraft subsequently collided with the terrain and came to rest in a nose-over attitude.

The investigation

Following the incident, an inspection of the fuel system was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed that one tank was completely empty, while the other tank contained 25 gallons of fuel. It was noted that the pilot had just switched the fuel selector to the tank containing the remaining fuel immediately before the engine quit.

Findings

The sequence of events indicates a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation or exhaustion. Despite having fuel available in one tank, the engine failed to continue running after the selector was moved to that source, suggesting a potential issue with fuel flow or system integrity at that moment. The collision with the boundary fence and subsequent terrain impact were direct consequences of the forced landing maneuver necessitated by the engine failure.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, resulting in an in-flight engine shutdown due to fuel exhaustion.
Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 May 1988 Cessna T210M accident near Long Beach, CA?

An aircraft experienced an in-flight engine shutdown while on final approach to the runway, resulting in a forced landing where the empennage struck the airport boundary fence before impacting terrain and nosing over.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 May 1988 involved a Cessna T210M, registration N6178N, at Long Beach, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to ensure adequate fuel supply for the flight, resulting in an in-flight engine shutdown due to fuel exhaustion.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X25744. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.