Cessna 210L accident near Brownsville, Texas, February 12, 1991
On February 12, 1991 at about 2:22 am local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N210YB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brownsville, Texas (S. Padre Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 1991 · about 2:22 am local time
- Place
- Brownsville, Texas · S. Padre Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N210YB · no longer on the register · serial 21060354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON RETURNING FROM A ROUND ROBIN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS WHILE ON A TWO MILE FINAL TO HIS DESTINATION. HE REPORTED THE POWER LOSS TO THE TOWER AND STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE, AND A DITCH, SLIDING TO A STOP AGAINST THE AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ABOUT ONE GALLON OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,152 hours in all; 3,427 as pilot in command; 169 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1990; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pesa Sales CO., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SLW Saltillo at 1:05 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 7,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.