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Casualties unknown

Precautionary Landing After Engine Roughness Results in Collision with Wood Pile (N93159)

Arcata, CA, US

On February 4, 1994, a Cessna T210L (registration N93159) operated by Robert O. Miller was involved in an aviation accident near Arcata, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's improper in-flight planning and his failure to correctly monitor the aircraft's fuel system and to position the selector valve on a tank containing fuel. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot and passenger executed a precautionary landing after engine roughness and power loss. The airplane collided with a wood pile. Examination revealed no fuel in the left tank, fuel selector on left, and fuel leaking from the right tank. No mechanical issues were found.

Accident Sequence

The pilot and passenger took off and climbed to 11,000 feet, proceeding toward their destination. After approximately 33 minutes of flight, the pilot reported to the radar controller that the engine was running rough. As the engine began losing power, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing. The pilot elected to land in a field, during which the airplane collided with a wood pile.

Examination

An examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left wing tank. However, fuel was observed leaking from the impact-damaged right wing. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank. No mechanical malfunctions were found during the examination of the airframe, and the engine was successfully test run.

Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 4 Feb 1994 Cessna T210L accident near Arcata, CA?

A pilot and passenger executed a precautionary landing after engine roughness and power loss. The airplane collided with a wood pile. Examination revealed no fuel in the left tank, fuel selector on left, and fuel leaking from the right tank. No mechanical issues were found.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Feb 1994 involved a Cessna T210L, registration N93159, operated by Robert O. Miller, at Arcata, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's improper in-flight planning and his failure to correctly monitor the aircraft's fuel system and to position the selector valve on a tank containing fuel.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X00759. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.