Cessna T210N accident near Marfa, Texas, December 21, 2003
On December 21, 2003 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N4689Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marfa, Texas (Marfa Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2003 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marfa, Texas · Marfa Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4689Y · no longer on the register · serial 21063987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 420-hour pilot reported that prior to departure the airplane's fuel tanks were full. During the flight, he switched from the left fuel tank to the right, approximately one hour after takeoff. The pilot stated the total time en-route was three hours, and ten minutes. Prior to arrival, the pilot entered a left downwind for runway 03. Upon lowering the gear, a passenger informed the pilot that he noticed liquid on the left wheel. The pilot further stated while on final, he was a little high and opted to go-around. On the crosswind leg, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard in a field. After the evacuation, the pilot noticed, "fuel leaking from the engine area." During the on-scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, no visible signs of fuel were observed in the left wing fuel tank. Approximately six two eight ounces of fuel was drained from the ring wing fuel tank. The engine and airframe were found to be free of anomalies during the course of the investigation.
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: instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 405 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 342 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 7, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,500.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2003; 92.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HPY Baytown TX at 7:22 pm
- Destination: MRF Marfa TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 035, 5,239 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from MRF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.