Cessna 210 accident near Westhampton Bch, New York, May 10, 2002
On May 10, 2002 at about 1:49 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N7482E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Westhampton Bch, New York (Francis S Gabreski Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2002 · about 1:49 pm local time
- Place
- Westhampton Bch, New York · Francis S Gabreski Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N7482E · no longer on the register · serial 57182
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A private pilot and certified flight instructor were practicing touch-and-go's during an airplane checkout when the engine lost power on the base leg of the traffic pattern. The flight instructor performed a forced landing to a road straight ahead, and during the approach, the airplane impacted a tree. The flight instructor stated that during the forced landing, he instructed the private pilot to turn the fuel selector to the off position. In a later telephone interview, the flight instructor stated that the private pilot may have accidentally moved the fuel selector to the off position while trimming the airplane. The private pilot reported the fuel selector was set on the right tank for the entire flight, and the fire marshal on-scene after the accident reported that he turned the fuel selector from the right to the off position. Fuel was found in each tank, as well as the fuel manifold valve, fuel lines and throttle body. The fuel-injected engine was test run, and no mechanical anomalies were observed.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 875 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,645 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 7, 2002; 19 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 12:00 pm
- Destination: FOK Westhampton Bch NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FOK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.