Cessna T210N accident near Springdale, Arkansas, August 26, 1993
On August 26, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N6142Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Springdale, Arkansas (Springdale Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 STARVATION AND THE IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SELECTOR. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST, AND 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
- August 26, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springdale, Arkansas · Springdale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6142Y · no longer on the register · serial 21064266
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CALCULATED, BUT DID NOT VISUALLY CONFIRM, THAT THE FUEL CELLS CONTAINED 44 GALLONS OF FUEL PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON A 30 MINUTE FLIGHT. BOTH LEGS OF THE FLIGHT WERE FLOWN ON THE RIGHT TANK, AND AS THE AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PILOT SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT TANK AND ACTIVATED THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART DUE TO FUEL VAPOR LOCK. THE RIGHT FUEL CELL WAS FOUND TO BE DRY, WHILE FUEL WAS AVAILABLE ON THE LEFT FUEL CELL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A POLE AND CAME TO REST IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE MANUFACTURER'S BEFORE LANDING CHECKLIST CALLED FOR USE OF THE FULLEST TANK FOR LANDING.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,045 hours in all; 1,680 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1993; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JLN Joplin MO at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from FYV, 17 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.