Cessna P210N accident near Muskogee, Oklahoma, December 18, 1996
On December 18, 1996 at about 4:07 am local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N210BG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muskogee, Oklahoma (Davis Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision and inaccurate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in an inadequate supply of fuel, fuel exhaustion, and a subsequent forced landing at night. Darkness was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 1996 · about 4:07 am local time
- Place
- Muskogee, Oklahoma · Davis Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N210BG · registry record · serial P21000025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was hired to fly the aircraft from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Little Rock, Arkansas, to Gulf Shores, Alabama, for prospective buyers to examine the aircraft, and then to return to Tulsa. After takeoff from Tulsa International Airport, the tower advised the pilot that smoke was coming from the aircraft. He returned to the airport and had the aircraft checked for the source of smoke. He was informed that the aircraft had a Riley Intercooler Conversion, which dictated that the mixture be leaned for takeoff. He then departed with no apparent problem. At Gulf Shores, the pilot demonstrated the aircraft, and 25 gallons of fuel were added. He then departed Gulf Shores for a night, cross-country flight back to Tulsa. He diverted to Fort Smith Regional Airport, Fort Smith, Arkansas for fuel. Nine gallons of fuel were added, and then he departed for Tulsa. Subsequently, the airplane was damaged during a forced landing at night at the Davis Airport, Muskogee, Oklahoma. The total fuel drained from all of the fuel tanks was 1.5 gallons, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage. Investigation showed that 154 gallons of fuel were available for the mission. Estimated fuel required to reach Muskogee with no reserve was 154 gallons.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1996; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Corporate Aircraft Marketing
The flight
- Departed from: FSM Fort Smith AR at 3:20 am
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 am from MKO
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.
Other NTSB records under N210BG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.