Fuel Exhaustion & Starvation · NTSB CEN13LA054
CESSNA P210N — Conway, AR
| Date | November 7, 2012 |
| Location | Conway, AR |
| Aircraft | CESSNA P210N |
| Purpose of flight | Unknown |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Prior to flight Aircraft inspection event |
| Pilot age | 65 |
| Pilot total time | 3,381 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 903 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which failed to detect the lack of fuel and resulted in fuel exhaustion during climb, and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airplane control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at low altitude from which he was unable to recover.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Inspection-Preflight inspection-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Inadequate inspection - C
- Aircraft-Fluids/misc hardware-Fluids-Fuel-Fluid level - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not specified - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
What happened
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during climb after takeoff when it was about 300 to 500 feet about ground level. The airplane then impacted trees and terrain about 300 feet north of the departure runway end. A witness stated that the airplane stalled during the climb and banked "hard" right before impacting the ground. There was no fuel smell and no foliage discoloration consistent with a fuel spill at the accident site. Neither of the two header fuel tanks contained fuel. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction.