Cessna 210 accident near Delavan, Wisconsin, August 9, 1991
On August 9, 1991 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N6159F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delavan, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MISJUDGED FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS REFUELING NOT PERFORMED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1991 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delavan, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N6159F · registry record · serial 21059059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED TANKS AND PUT ON HIGH BOOST PUMP, BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. AN EMERGENCY WATER LANDING WAS MADE ABOUT 1000 FEET FROM SHORE. THE AIRCRAFT SANK IN ABOUT 10 FEET OF WATER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.
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
- Flight time: 2,250 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 2,180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,530 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 25, 1991; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C29 Madison WI at 1:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:30 pm from JVL, 40 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 N6159F 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.