Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ATL00LA056

FAYETTEVILLE, NC, USA

Aircraft #1

N6607X

Cessna 210A

Analysis

The pilot stated his destination was Winter Haven, Florida, with a refueling stop at Fayetteville. The pilot stated he departed with full tanks of fuel. The en-route time, according to the pilot, was 3 hours. The pilot stated that while on short final for runway 22, he completed the pre-landing checklist and switched tanks. According to the pilot, when he switched the fuel selector from the left tank position to the right, the engine 'stumbled'. He stated that he then switched back to the left tank and the engine surged and lost power. The airplane collided with the terrain in a marsh area approximately 500 feet from the runway. According to the rescue personnel at the site, a 'barrel' of fuel was drained from the right main tank, the amount was undetermined. No fuel was drained from the left main tank. An engine was examined at Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama on July 18, 2000 and no discrepancies were found.

Factual Information

On May 09, 2000, about 1115 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 210A, N6607X, collided with the terrain while on approach to land on runway 22 at Fayetteville Regional Airport, Fayetteville, North Carolina. The flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Columbia County Airport, Hudson, New York, at 0815. The pilot stated his destination was Winter Haven, Florida, with a refueling stop at Fayetteville. The pilot stated he departed Hudson with full tanks of fuel. The en-route time, according to the pilot, was 3 hours. The airplane has an endurance of about 4.5 hours. The pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks on average every 45 minutes. The pilot stated that while on short final for runway 22 at Fayetteville Regional, he completed the pre-landing checklist and switched tanks. According to the pilot, when he switched the fuel selector from the left tank position to the right, the engine "stumbled". He stated that he then switched back to the left tank and the engine surged and lost power. The airplane collided with the terrain in a marsh area approximately 500 feet from the runway. According to the rescue personnel at the site, a "barrel" of fuel was drained from the right main tank, the amount was undetermined. No fuel was drained from left main tank. The engine was examined at Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Alabama on July 18, 2000 and no discrepancies were found.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper fuel management resulting in fuel starvation. A factor was improper planned approach.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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