Cessna 210D accident near Hillsboro, Texas, February 10, 1993
On February 10, 1993 at about 4:30 am local time, a Cessna 210D, registered N3876Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Texas. 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 POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1993 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210D · all 210Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3876Y · no longer on the register · serial 21058376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT ON A DARK NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND AFTER MANUALLY LOWERING THE GEAR, EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A MUDDY PLOWED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY, EXCEPT FOR UNUSABLE FUEL. THERE WAS NO TANK COMPROMISE OR FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE SITE OR EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE ON THE AIRFRAME OR WINGS. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF WITH 56 GALLONS OF FUEL ABOUT 1.2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS TEST RUN AND OPERATED NORMALLY.
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
- Flight time: 16,830 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days; 16,750 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,564 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1992; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A(9) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Canton TX at 4:00 am
- Destination: F60 Mcgregor TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 am from ACT, 15 miles away
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.