Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sunnyside, Washington 98944
Monday, July 22, 1996 1:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a fueler, the aircraft was serviced to 32 gallons of fuel in the left wing tank; however, the right tank was not refueled. The aircraft was then flown to Portland (inflight duration approximately 50 minutes). Shortly after landing, it departed without refueling. Approaching the destination, the engine began surging, and the pilot switched to the right fuel tank, after which, a total power loss occurred. A gear-up landing was made at night (after about 52 minutes of flight). During the landing, the aircraft collided with low, brushy trees. Post-crash examination of the aircraft revealed no fuel in either tank and no odor of fuel at the site. Additionally, the right wing tank fuel cap was missing as was its attach chain, and there were no fuel stains on the wing nor any scratch marks or abrasions in the vicinity of the fuel cap fitting.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

inadequate preflight by the pilot, and subsequent fuel exhaustion. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness, and high vegetation (brush and small trees) in the emergency landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 130
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SUNNYSIDE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98944
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 156 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID YKM
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1369
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 22 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 218
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:13AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6439N
NTSB Number SEA96LA161
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier T210N
Aircraft Serial Number 21063015
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 2 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 3260
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NOLAND-DECOTO FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2810 WEST WASHINGTON AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City YAKIMA
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98903
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NOLAND-DECOTO FLYING SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2810 WEST WASHINGTON AVENUE
Operator City YAKIMA
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98903
Operator Code GGNA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDX
Departure City PORTLAND
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 38
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1S5
Destination City SUNNYSIDE
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
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 --