Cessna 210 accident near Belleville, Michigan, May 20, 1991
On May 20, 1991 at about 6:48 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9656T, was destroyed in an accident near Belleville, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP, THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP, POOR INFLIGHT DECISION, AND POOR EXECUTION OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS MODEL AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1991 · about 6:48 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9656T · no longer on the register · serial 57456
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP DRIVE SHAFT HAD FAILED, AND THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP WAS NOT ACTIVATED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1991; 14 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: 43G Belleville MI at 6:47 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from YIP, 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.