Cessna 210E accident near Clarksville, Missouri, August 11, 1996
On August 11, 1996 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 210E, registered N4963U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarksville, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel starvation for undetermined reason(s). Factors relating to the accident were: the crop, and the uphill terrain condition in the emergency landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1996 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clarksville, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210E · all 210Es on the register
- Registration
- N4963U · registry record · serial 210-58663
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the airplane was topped off with fuel on the day before the flight. He reported that one hour into the flight, the engine ran rough, and the fuel flow dropped to 4 gph. He switched fuel tanks, enriched the mixture, and turned on the boost pump, which resulted in a momentary increase in fuel pressure. The fuel pressure then dropped again, and a forced landing was made. The forced landing was in a field which the pilot described as being uphill. The nose gear separated from the airplane during the landing. Inspection of the airplane revealed the left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was 1/2 to 3/4 full. The fuel selector was positioned on the left tank. No discrepancies were noted with the engine or fuel system which would have resulted in the loss of 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1996; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H21 Camdenton MO at 4:10 pm
- Destination: PMV Plattsmouth NE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.