Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Calexico, California 92231
Monday, September 2, 1991 11:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A DESCENT SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER INTO A RIVER. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED NO FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WATER WERE NOTICED IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FROM THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SUPPLY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CALEXICO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92231
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID IPL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2235
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45497
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2580S
NTSB Number LAX91LA381
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 C-210
Aircraft Series Identifier C-210
Aircraft Serial Number 21061333
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 11 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 2518
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT M. THACHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 56020 SANTA FE TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City YUCCA VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92284
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT S. SHELDON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 74-140 EL PASO, STE 372
Operator City PALM DESERT
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92260
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 L22
Departure City YUCCA VALLEY
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --