Cessna P210 accident near Pulaski, Illinois, June 20, 1993
On June 20, 1993 at about 4:37 pm local time, a Cessna P210, registered N4813P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pulaski, Illinois. 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 improper fuel tank selection resulting in fuel starvation. A factor in the accident is the soft emergency landing surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1993 · about 4:37 pm local time
- Place
- Pulaski, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N4813P · registry record · serial P21000115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER TO ATC AND COMMENTED HE THOUGHT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A BEAN FIELD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY OF USEABLE FUEL, AND THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANKS HELD APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER HE HAD BEEN USING THE RIGHT FUEL TANKS. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS TESTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT BY USING A SUBSTITUTE FUEL SYSTEM AND SELECTING THE LEFT FUEL TANK POSITION. THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN WITHOUT ANY OBSERVED MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,360 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Regal Quality Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Saratoga Spring NY at 11:10 am
- Destination: SPI Springfield IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft; not recorded at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:44 pm from SPI, 20 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.