Cessna T210M accident near Wharton, Texas, July 7, 1990
On July 7, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N351WB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wharton, Texas (Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO AN OUT-OF-RIG CONDITION IN THE AUTOMATIC AUXILIARY BOOST PUMP MECHANISM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wharton, Texas · Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N351WB · no longer on the register · serial 21062517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TURNED THE AUX FUEL PUMP ON WHILE ON DOWNWIND, SWITCHED TO THE FULLEST TANK, AND THEN TURNED THE AUX FUEL PUMP OFF. HE ALSO STATED THAT AT 400 FEET ON FINAL HE PUT THE FLAPS DOWN, AND TRIED TO INCREASE POWER. HE RECEIVED NO ENGINE RESPONSE. AFTER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FAILED HE MADE A FORCED LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN A MUDDY FIELD. INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN OUT-OF-RIG CONDITION ON THE THROTTLE RELATED SYSTEM THAT AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED THE TWO POSITION/PRESSURE AUX FUEL PUMP. ENGINE RUN BEFORE RE-RIGGING REVEALED AN OVER RICH MIXTURE AND ROUGH ENGINE AT IDLE; BEYOND 1/3 THROTTLE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RUN. ENGINE RUN AFTER RE- RIGGING REVEALED NORMAL OPERATION. THE PILOT'S CHECKLIST STATES 'AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP - OFF,' THREE LINES AFTER STATING 'FUEL SELECTOR VALVE - FULLER TANK.'
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 11,330 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 9,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,748 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDD Midland TX at 1:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.