Cessna 210F accident near Montrose, Colorado, September 9, 1995
On September 9, 1995 at about 2:23 pm local time, a Cessna 210F, registered N1851F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montrose, Colorado. It was an instructional 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 PILOT'S INATTENTIVENESS TO THE LOW FUEL SUPPLY AND HIS FAILURE TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS IN A TIMELY MANNER. A FACTOR WAS 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
- September 9, 1995 · about 2:23 pm local time
- Place
- Montrose, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210F · all 210Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1851F · registry record · serial 210-58751
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE SWITCHED TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SMALL FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. A FIREMAN NOTED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT TANK, BUT NO FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE SALVAGE COMPANY SAID THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE ENGINE FUEL LINE, NOR WAS THERE ANY FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK LINE. WHEN THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE BOOST PUMP TURNED ON, NO FUEL WAS EJECTED. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 3.9 HOURS SINCE IT WAS LAST REFUELED.
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: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,068 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 4, 1994; 180 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTJ at 1:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from MTJ, 1 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.