Buena Vista Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buena Vista, Colorado 81211
Sunday, October 28, 1990 18:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING FIVE PASSENGERS ON A ROUND TRIP CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGERS, THEY PAID THE PILOT FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID HE TOOK OFF WITH WHAT HE ESTIMATED WAS 64 GALLONS OF FUEL. TWO HOURS AND TWENTY FIVE MINUTES LATER, HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE WAS OUT OF FUEL, AND HE ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE OUT LANDING TO RUNWAY 33. THE PLANE LANDED 400 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR, AND NOSED OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED 40 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. BOTH WINGS, THE CABIN AND FUSELAGE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE RESCUE PERSONNEL AND LAW OFFICERS ON THE SCENE REPORTED THE TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO FUEL SPILL WAS FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE ENGINE SYSTEM, AND COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN ANY INCREASED FUEL USAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FUEL SUPPLY RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/28/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City BUENA VISTA
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81211
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BUENA VISTA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7V1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 7980
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 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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1347
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42658
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N621BD
NTSB Number DEN91LA014
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 T-210-M
Aircraft Series Identifier T-210-M
Aircraft Serial Number 210-61969
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DENVER AIR CENTER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11915 AIRPORT WAY BLDG. B-3
Operator City BROOMFIELD
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80221
Operator Code CIUA
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 SDL
Departure City SCOTTSDALE
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BJC
Destination City BROOMFIELD
Destination State CO
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 33
Runway Length 9000
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --