Cessna T210L accident near Memphis, Tennessee, July 12, 1990
On July 12, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N2074S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis Intl airport). It was a business 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
FUEL MISMANAGEMENT BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION DURING FINAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · Memphis Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N2074S · no longer on the register · serial 21061041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL GAUGES READ 3/4 UPON DEPARTURE. HE ALSO SAID THE LEFT FUEL GAUGE WAS INTERMITTENT. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT ON SHORT FINAL, HE SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT TANK TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE LEFT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY. TESTING REVEALED THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS INTACT & THE QUANTITY INDICATOR WAS INOPERABLE. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WHICH WAS ALSO BREACHED BY IMPACT DAMAGE. FIRE PERSONNEL SAID THEY PUT THE FUEL SELECTOR IN THE OFF POSITION, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BECAUSE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT TANK DRAIN.
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
- Flight time: 207 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 129 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Express Services INC.
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 8,936 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 13,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from MEM, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N2074S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.