Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
Monday, May 29, 2006 13:35 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure, the pilot "did a preflight in the hangar, including removing the cowling and everything seemed fine." Based on the time of a previous flight and fuel consumption, the pilot estimated the airplane had two hours of fuel on board. The pilot asked the line personnel to pull the airplane out of the hangar, and he would refuel when he returned. After flying a practice instrument approach, the pilot switched fuel tanks and the pilot interpreted the fuel indicator displayed 22 gallons. Based on that fuel level, the pilot flew north away from the airport to set up for another instrument approach. During the pilot's next instrument scan, he noticed a low fuel indication. The pilot immediately turned toward the airport and reported to air traffic control he was low on fuel. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the pilot intiated a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the empennage was separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was buckled. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane's fuel tanks contained no evidence of fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to refuel the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1335
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Santa Fe
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87505
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 353701N
Event Location Longitude 1060521W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20320
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Southwest Region
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 3 2006 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7353C
NTSB Number DEN06CA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model T210N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 63943
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BLH Development Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Dallas
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SAF
Departure City Santa Fe
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SAF
Destination City Santa Fe
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2006 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --