Cessna 210 accident near Smithville, Tennessee, December 27, 1992
On December 27, 1992 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N7479E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Smithville, Tennessee (Smithville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO FOLLOW PILOT MANUAL PROCEDURES BY SLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT WITH INADEQUATE FUEL AVAILABLE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY ON THE AIRCRAFT AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 1992 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Smithville, Tennessee · Smithville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N7479E · no longer on the register · serial 57179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT LANDED AT AN AIRPORT 45 MILES SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION TO REFUEL. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE, SO HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE ESTIMATED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD AT THE TIME. ENROUTE TO THE AIRPORT, HE RAN THE RIGHT TANK DRY, AND SWITCHED TO THE LEFT TANK. HE DECIDED TO FLY A NO FLAP LANDING DUE TO LOW FUEL. HE WAS HIGH AND FAST ON FINAL, SO HE SLIPPED THE AIRCRAFT, LEFT WING LOW. HE COULD NOT LAND SAFELY, SO HE EXECUTED A GO AROUND, AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HE ATTEMPTED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHILE IN THE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE, THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE CESSNA 210 PILOT'S MANUAL STATES THAT PROLONGED SIDESLIPS CAN RESULT IN UNPORTING OF THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND FUEL STARVATION. THERE CAN BE UP TO 10 GALLONS OF UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE SYSTEM WHEN LEVEL FLIGHT IS NOT MAINTAINED. THE ENGINE POWER LOSS OCCURRED ABOUT 35 MINUTES INTO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 719 hours in all; 314 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command; 47 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1992; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TZV Tompkinsville KY at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from BNA, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.