Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zephyrhills, Florida 34283
Friday, November 29, 1991 21:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

APPX 20 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF DURING CRUISE FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT REPOSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR & ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENG BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT WHILE ON A DARK NIGHT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, THEN THE GROUND & CAME TO REST. THE LT FUEL TANK WAS DRAINED WHICH REVEALED THAT IT CONTAINED APPX 7 GALS OF FUEL. THE RT FUEL TANK, WHICH WAS NOT DAMAGED, WAS EMPTY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SIPHONING THROUGH THE FUEL CAPS. THE RT WING FUEL VENT WAS EXAMINED & FOUND TO BE BLOCKED BY AN UNK OBJECT BUT BOTH FUEL TANKS HAD VENTED FUEL CAPS INSTALLED. BOTH CAPS OPS CHECKED GOOD. THE ENG WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT ACFT & PLACED ON ANOTHER ACFT FOR AN ENG RUN. THE ENG WAS STARTED AND FOUND TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AT THE TIME OF THE LOSS OF POWER, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LT TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN INCORRECT FUEL QUANTITY GAGE, THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2115
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ZEPHYRHILLS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34283
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 11
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 Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1750
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45627
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9064M
NTSB Number MIA92LA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 210M
Aircraft Series Identifier 210M
Aircraft Serial Number 21062057
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Nov 22 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHEROKEE LEASING, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 140968
Aircraft Owner City ORLANDO
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32814
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CHEROKEE EXPRESS AIR CARGO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 140968
Operator City ORLANDO
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32814
Operator Code
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TPA
Departure City TAMPA
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2055
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ORL
Destination City ORLANDO
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --