Cessna T210N accident near Pine River, Minnesota, September 9, 2003
On September 9, 2003 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5360U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pine River, Minnesota (Pine River Regional 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
An inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot due to his failure to visually confirm fuel quantity prior to flight, and the resulting fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's improper use of the fuel management computer installed in the aircraft, and the tree located in the middle of the emergency landing field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 2003 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Pine River, Minnesota · Pine River Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5360U · no longer on the register · serial 210-64878
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during descent he "felt the plane slow up quite quickly." He reported he verified the position of the engine controls, however he was unable to restore power. The pilot stated that he selected an emergency landing field. He noted: "After I cleared the tree line I put down my wheels and ten degrees of flaps. … I had to turn pretty sharply to avoid a large tree that was in the middle of the field. When I felt I had cleared the tree I straightened out the plane and pulled the nose up to flare. The plane did not seem to flare and hit the ground very hard. The landing gear collapsed upon impact and the plane slid on the ground." The pilot reported no malfunctions with the aircraft or engine prior to the loss of engine power. The post-accident examination of the aircraft recovered approximately 8 ounces of fuel from the fuel tanks. No fuel was present in the fuel line running from the firewall to the engine. The fuel tanks and lines appeared to be intact and no evidence of fuel leakage was observed. The pilot stated that he did not visually confirm the fuel level before flight. He reported referencing remaining fuel quantity from a fuel management computer installed in the aircraft. The operating manual for the fuel management computer stated: "[The fuel management computer] is a fuel flow measuring system and NOT a quantity-sensing device. A visual inspection and positive determination of the usable fuel in the fuel tanks is a necessity. Therefore, it is imperative that the determined available usable fuel be manually entered into the system."
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: 233 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 197 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 2003; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUW Superior WI at 7:00 pm
- Destination: PWC Pine River MN
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 16 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from PWC, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N5360U 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.