On October 7, 1989, a Cessna 210 (registration N5252E) operated by Willis, David H was involved in an aviation accident near Jacksonville, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate usable fuel was available for flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft lost engine power shortly after takeoff due to fuel starvation caused by an incorrect fuel selector position, resulting in a forced landing in a field.
What happened
Shortly after initiating takeoff, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing in a nearby field.
The investigation
A subsequent examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector valve had been positioned incorrectly. It was set to a tank containing only one-half gallon of fuel, which was not usable for flight operations. The other fuel tank contained five gallons of fuel, but it was not selected.
Findings
The engine failure was caused by fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's selection of an unusable fuel source during the pre-flight or takeoff phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate usable fuel was available for flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power.
What happened in the 7 Oct 1989 Cessna 210 accident near Jacksonville, FL?
An aircraft lost engine power shortly after takeoff due to fuel starvation caused by an incorrect fuel selector position, resulting in a forced landing in a field.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 7 Oct 1989 involved a Cessna 210, registration N5252E, operated by Willis, David H, at Jacksonville, FL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's failure to ensure adequate usable fuel was available for flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power.
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