Cessna T-210-M accident near Buena Vista, Colorado, October 29, 1990
On October 29, 1990 at about 1:30 am local time, a Cessna T-210-M, registered N621BD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buena Vista, Colorado (Buena Vista airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FUEL SUPPLY RESULTING IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1990 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Buena Vista, Colorado · Buena Vista · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-210-M · all T-210-Ms on the register
- Registration
- N621BD · registry record · serial 210-61969
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING FIVE PASSENGERS ON A ROUND TRIP CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGERS, THEY PAID THE PILOT FOR THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT SAID HE TOOK OFF WITH WHAT HE ESTIMATED WAS 64 GALLONS OF FUEL. TWO HOURS AND TWENTY FIVE MINUTES LATER, HE REPORTED THAT THE PLANE WAS OUT OF FUEL, AND HE ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE OUT LANDING TO RUNWAY 33. THE PLANE LANDED 400 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK A FENCE, SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR, AND NOSED OVER. THE PLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED 40 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. BOTH WINGS, THE CABIN AND FUSELAGE WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE RESCUE PERSONNEL AND LAW OFFICERS ON THE SCENE REPORTED THE TANKS WERE EMPTY AND NO FUEL SPILL WAS FOUND AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE ENGINE SYSTEM, AND COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN ANY INCREASED FUEL USAGE.
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
- Flight time: 425 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 342 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Denver Air Center
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 11:05 pm
- Destination: BJC Broomfield CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 33, 9,000 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 | 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.