Cessna T210N accident near Wheeling, West Virginia, October 26, 1991
On October 26, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6466N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, West Virginia (Wheeling Ohio CO airport). 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 ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED BY FUEL STARVATION AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FUEL MANAGEMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, West Virginia · Wheeling Ohio CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6466N · registry record · serial 21063040
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A VOR/DME APPROACH. AS SHE NEARED THE VOR, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SINCE SHE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE FIELD, SHE ELECTED TO CIRCLE AND LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR THE VOR. WHEN LANDING WAS ASSURED, SHE LOWERED THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND SHE BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP USING WHEEL BRAKES. THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE FAA REVEALED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS SELECTED. THE LEFT TANK HAD 20 GALLONS REMAINING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,848 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,537 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,947 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1991; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-RE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburgh PA at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from HLG, 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.
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.