Cessna P210N accident near Jackson, South Carolina, July 16, 1989
On July 16, 1989 at about 7:33 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N132WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE AVAILABLE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS NOT POSITIONED TO THE TANK WHICH CONTAINED FUEL. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE ROUGH TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1989 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N132WW · registry record · serial P21000796
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT AT ABOUT 20,000 FT WHILE DESCENDING TO A LOWER ALTITUDE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A SOFT FIELD; THE AIRPLANE DUG IN, GROUND LOOPED AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. PILOT REPORTED HE HAD FAILED TO SWITCH THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT TANK WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. THE RIGHT TANK CONTAINED 10-15 GALLONS OF FUEL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 564 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 564 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1989; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTH Marathon FL at 4:25 pm
- Destination: GSP Greer SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:38 pm from AGS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.