Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arcata, California 95521
Friday, February 4, 1994 6:55 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and passenger took off, climbed to 11,000 feet, and proceeded toward their destination. After flying for about 33 minutes, the pilot reported to the radar controller that the engine was rough. When the engine began losing power, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing. The pilot elected to land in a field and collided with a wood pile. 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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/4/1994
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 655
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City ARCATA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95521
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 218
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 659 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ACV
Elevation of weather observation facility 218
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 553
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 4 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 740
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N93159
NTSB Number LAX94LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T210L
Aircraft Series Identifier T210L
Aircraft Serial Number 21060287
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 17 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 118
Airframe Hours 2318
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT O. MILLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14175 OCEAN VIEW DR., BOX 106
Aircraft Owner City SMITH RIVER
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95567
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT O. MILLER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 14175 OCEAN VIEW DR., BOX 106
Operator City SMITH RIVER
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95567
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CEC
Departure City CRESCENT CITY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 615
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SFO
Destination City SAN FRANCISCO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --