Cessna T210L accident near Lufkin, Texas, April 24, 1987
On April 24, 1987 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N4637Q, was destroyed in an accident near Lufkin, Texas (Angelina County airport). It was a personal flight 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1987 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Lufkin, Texas · Angelina County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N4637Q · no longer on the register · serial 21059537
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND WAS DESCENDING FOR A VFR STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT HAD THE SELECTOR ON THE LEFT TANK WITH 4 TO 5 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THIS TANK. DURING THE DESCENT THE FUEL TANK OUTLET LINE BECAME UNPORTED CAUSING AIR TO BE DRAWN INTO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT TANK BUT DID NOT REALIZE THE ENGINE WAS NOT OPERATING UNTIL HE ADDED POWER ON FINAL APPROACH. HE COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A PASTURE ON ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. THE PILOT COULD NOT REMEMBER TURNING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL BOOST PUMP. DURING IMPACT A SMALL FIRE ERUPTED AND CONSUMED THE COCKPIT, CABIN AREA AND INBOARD HALF OF THE LEFT WING. THE BOOST PUMP SWITCH POSITION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE FIRE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,605 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 1,555 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,760 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 3:25 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 7, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.