Casualties unknown

2005-09-24: Cessna T210L (N94263) — Las Animas, CO

Las Animas, CO, US

On September 24, 2005, a Cessna T210L (registration N94263) was involved in an aviation accident near Las Animas, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. 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 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

During cruise, the pilot ran the left fuel tank low before switching to the right tank. Shortly after, fuel pressure dropped, the engine lost power, and a forced landing resulted in a collapsed nose wheel.

Event Description

During the initial descent phase of a flight, the engine lost power, prompting the pilot to execute a forced landing to a field. Prior to this, while in cruise flight, the pilot reported that he "ran the left tank down to the beginning of the red, [then] switched to the right tank." Approximately 5 to 8 minutes after switching tanks, the pilot noticed a loss in fuel pressure. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power entirely. The pilot's attempt to restart the engine was unsuccessful.

Forced Landing and Impact

Unable to reach an airport, the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane impacted uneven terrain, causing the nose wheel to collapse. According to air traffic control, the pilot reported that "he was out of fuel and unable to make the airport."

Additional Details

The sequence of events began with the pilot operating on the left fuel tank until it reached a low level indicated by the red zone on the gauge. After switching to the right tank, the fuel pressure dropped shortly thereafter, leading to the loss of engine power. The forced landing resulted in damage to the nose wheel assembly.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20051018X01682. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.