Cessna 210M accident near Apex, North Carolina, May 4, 1993
On May 4, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210M, registered N761CQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Apex, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Apex, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210M · all 210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N761CQ · no longer on the register · serial 21062153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE ON MULTIPLE FLIGHTS AND REFUELED ONCE. HE STATED THAT HE USED AN AVERAGE FUEL BURN OF 17 GPH. HE ESTIMATED THE FUEL ON BOARD AT THE LAST DEPARTURE POINT. EN ROUTE, THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. ABOUT TWO OUNCES OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL SYSTEM; WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
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
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1993; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPA Spartanburg SC at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 5W5 Fuquay-Varina NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from RDU, 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.