Cessna T210L accident near Lake Providence, Louisiana, November 27, 2013
On November 27, 2013, a 1974 Cessna T210L, registered N21ME, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Lake Providence, Louisiana. 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 available fuel and incorrect use of the fuel boost pump which resulted in a total loss of engine power at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2013
- Place
- Lake Providence, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L M, built 1974 · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N21ME · registry record · serial 21060224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed for a nearby private airstrip for an expected 12-minute flight. During cruise flight, at 500 feet above the ground , the left fuel tank was low on fuel so the pilot switched the fuel selector to the right fuel tank. After the engine began to "sputter," the pilot turned on the fuel boost pump; however, the problem continued until the engine lost power. He then elected to conduct a forced landing into a field. During the landing, the landing gear touched down on the wet ground, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left fuel tank was empty and the right fuel tank contained an undetermined amount of fuel. There was no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's application of the fuel boost pump likely flooded the engine with fuel after switching fuel tanks, causing the engine to lose power.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
- Fuel starvation during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action sequence › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,986 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 11,931 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 25, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental Motors Inc TSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Montrose Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: M80 Tallulah LA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Oak Grove LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KTVR, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 18, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence with Insurance Provider | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1: Damage to Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.