Cessna T210N accident near Aspen, Colorado, December 29, 1990
On December 29, 1990 at about 6:23 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1604U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aspen, Colorado (Aspen-Pitkin Co/Sardy Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION INDUCED POWER LOSS RESULTANT FROM FAULTY FUEL CAPS AND FUEL SYPHONING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1990 · about 6:23 pm local time
- Place
- Aspen, Colorado · Aspen-Pitkin Co/Sardy Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1604U · no longer on the register · serial 21064708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED ENGLEWOOD, CO, AND FLEW TO LAS VEGAS, NV. IN 4.7 HRS. IT TOOK 80 GALLONS OF FUEL TO TOP OFF THE TANKS. THE PILOT THEN FLEW TO VAN NUYS, CA, IN 1.5 HRS. THE TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF AGAIN, REQUIRING 25.3 GALLONS. THE NEXT DAY, DUE TO FAVORABLE TAILWINDS, THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER PLANNED TO FLY TO ASPEN, CO, NONSTOP. DURING DESCENT INTO ASPEN AFTER 3.4 HOURS OF FLYING, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD 2 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK; THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE AIRPLANE OPERATOR REPORTED WORK HAD RECENTLY BEEN DONE ON THE FUEL FILLER CAPS BECAUSE WATER HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE FUEL TANKS. THE OPERATOR ALSO REPORTED FUEL SIPHONING FROM THE FILLER CAPS. FAA HAD ISSUED AN ADVANCED NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ADDRESSING THESE SUBJECTS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,661 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 7,711 as pilot in command; 1,802 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: ASE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:29 pm from ASE, 2 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N1604U 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.