Cessna T-210M accident near Tyler, Texas, October 29, 1994
On October 29, 1994 at about 6:47 pm local time, a Cessna T-210M, registered N533CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tyler, Texas. 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL MANAGEMENT AND FUEL STARVATION. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE 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
- October 29, 1994 · about 6:47 pm local time
- Place
- Tyler, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-210M · all T-210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N533CA · registry record · serial T21062161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER INSIDE THE OUTER MARKER ON A PRACTICE ILS APPROACH. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE SWITCHED TANKS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, BUT COULDN'T RESTART THE ENGINE. HE REPORTED THE RIGHT TANK FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FULL, AND THE LEFT GAUGE INDICATED 1/2 FULL WHILE HE WAS SWITCHING TANKS. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED INTO TREES 3/4 MI FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST APPROX WINGS LEVEL AND SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN. DURING AIRCRAFT RECOVERY 19 HRS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS OBSERVED TO BE EMPTY, AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 27 GALS OF FUEL. NO FUEL SPILLAGE WAS NOTED AT THE SITE. THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK WAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS; A 1 DROP PER SECOND LEAK WAS NOTED NEAR A DAMAGED AREA OF THE WING LEADING EDGE WHICH WAS CRUSHED BACK TO THE SPAR. NO PREVIOUS FUEL STAINS WERE NOTED NEAR THE CRUSHED AREA. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING POST ACCIDENT TESTS ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 216 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 26, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Stebbins Aviation INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GGG Longview TX at 5:00 pm
- Destination: GGG TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from TYR, 2 miles away
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.