Cessna T210N accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 29, 2006
On May 29, 2006 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N7353C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing factors were the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and failure to refuel the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2006 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Fe, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N7353C · registry record · serial 63943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot "did a preflight in the hangar, including removing the cowling and everything seemed fine." Based on the time of a previous flight and fuel consumption, the pilot estimated the airplane had two hours of fuel on board. The pilot asked the line personnel to pull the airplane out of the hangar, and he would refuel when he returned. After flying a practice instrument approach, the pilot switched fuel tanks and the pilot interpreted the fuel indicator displayed 22 gallons. Based on that fuel level, the pilot flew north away from the airport to set up for another instrument approach. During the pilot's next instrument scan, he noticed a low fuel indication. The pilot immediately turned toward the airport and reported to air traffic control he was low on fuel. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost power and the pilot intiated a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted trees and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed the empennage was separated from the fuselage, and the fuselage was buckled. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane's fuel tanks contained no evidence of fuel.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,081 hours in all; 355 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Santa Fe NM at 6:30 pm
- Destination: SAF Santa Fe NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.