CESSNA PLT LANDS OUT OF GAS IN HAY FIELD WHEN HEADWINDS ARE STRONGER THAN PLANNED.

1999-08 · NASA ASRS report 445053

Date: 1999-08 · Aircraft: Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C; 210D · Phase: cruise

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far

Synopsis

CESSNA PLT LANDS OUT OF GAS IN HAY FIELD WHEN HEADWINDS ARE STRONGER THAN PLANNED.

Narrative

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS ACCIDENT IS ENTIRELY MY FAULT. I TRIED TO STRETCH THE FUEL AND LOST. THIS IS THE FIRST ACCIDENT I HAD IN MY 52 YRS OF FLYING AND HOPE THE LAST ONE. I LEFT OAKLAND; CA; AND HEADED TO OSHKOSH; WI; WITH MY SON. I HAD DONE THIS TRIP LAST YR WITH THE SAME AIRPLANE. I REFUEL 3 TIMES AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN LA CROSSE; WI. THIS YR I DECIDED TO INSTALL TIP TANKS TO INCREASE MY FUEL CAPACITY FROM 90 GALS TO 122 GALS SO THAT I HAVE TO REFUEL ONLY ONCE. MY FLT CALLED FOR 180 KTS GND SPD BUT THE HEADWINDS REDUCED IT TO 154 KTS. WHEN I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO THE PLANNED STOP AT FREMONT; NE (FET); I HAD 40 MINS FUEL LEFT. THE WX AT THAT POINT WAS OVCST AND I WAS FLYING OVER THE CLOUDS. BUT THE WX WAS IMPROVING 50 MI OR SO AHEAD AND I DECIDED TO LAND AT ARTHUR (38V); NE. I WAS IN CONTACT WITH ZDV AND IN FACT I ASKED THEM FOR VECTORS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE ARTHUR. I CIRCLED A FEW TIMES TRYING TO LOCATE IT BUT NO LUCK. AFTER 15 MINS OF CIRCLING; THE ENG STOPPED AND I LANDED IN A MOWED HAY FIELD WHICH I HAD SPOTTED WHILE CIRCLING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE AIRPLANE HAD MINOR DAMAGE AND THE NEXT DAY I ADDED 20 GALS OF FUEL AND TOOK OFF ALONE LEAVING MY SON TO MEET ME IN THE OGALLALA (OGA). THE LCL FBO SHOP CHKED THE AIRPLANE AND THE NEXT MORNING WE TOOK OFF FOR OAKLAND.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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