Accident Overview
A Cessna T210M aircraft crashed into a residential roof after experiencing a loss of engine power while in a cruise descent to enter an airport traffic pattern. The aircraft was configured with the landing gear down and flaps up at the time of the accident.
Fuel System Findings
Post-crash examination revealed that the right wing fuel tank and the header tank were empty. The fuel selector valve was found wedged in the right tank position. Fuel stains were visible on the right wing, emanating from several fuel tank access panels. In contrast, the left wing fuel tank contained sufficient fuel for the pilot to reach the destination airport.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported that upon realizing he could not reach the intended forced landing area, he attempted to land in a school yard but subsequently overshot it. The emergency procedure outlined in the Pilot Operating Handbook directs the pilot to switch to the fullest tank during an engine power loss. The emergency procedure also recommends setting 30 degrees of flaps for a forced landing; the aircraft was found with flaps up.
Aircraft Configuration
The landing gear was extended and the flaps were retracted at the time of impact.