Cessna T210K accident near Deming, New Mexico, November 30, 2003
On November 30, 2003 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Cessna T210K, registered N81PC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deming, New Mexico (Deming Municipal Airport). 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 in-flight planning and decision. Factors contributing to the accident were fuel exhaustion and the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2003 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico · Deming Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210K · all T210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N81PC · registry record · serial T210K59381
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on approach to the airport. At 5 nautical miles from the airport, the airplane was approximately 4,000 feet above ground level. The pilot lowered the landing gear, set 30 degrees of flaps, and initiated several "S" turns to lose altitude. The pilot said that at 2 miles from the runway, he switched his fuel selector to the right fuel tank, which had more fuel. The pilot continued the "S" turns until he was 1/3 mile from the end of the runway. When he applied power to level off, there was no response. The pilot selected a field to the right of his final approach course. The airplane touched down approximately 20 feet short of his intended field. The airplane struck a wrought iron fence, collapsing the nose gear and the left main landing gear. An examination of the engine showed no evidence of fuel in the fuel distribution manifold or fuel lines. An examination of the fuel tanks showed some fuel in the right fuel tank. An examination of the airplane's, engine controls and remaining systems revealed no 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,787 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 5,637 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,320.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 2003; 163.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: DMN Deming NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 6,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DMN, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N81PC 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.