Cessna P210N accident near Carrollton, Ohio, May 20, 1996
On May 20, 1996, a Cessna P210N, registered N731NC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carrollton, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate fuel management. Factors in this accident were the pilot's reliance on a fuel data computer and his untimely reaction to a known fuel quantity discrepancy.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1996
- Place
- Carrollton, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731NC · registry record · serial P210-00502
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane had 89 gallons of low lead aviation fuel onboard when he took off. He stated that the flight proceeded as planned, but as he neared his destination he elected to land to refuel at an airport within 50 miles of his destination. Within miles from the airport that he elected to refuel at, the engine lost power. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot and the two passengers stated that the airplane ran out of fuel. The pilot said he suspected a fuel quantity problem when his fuel gauges started bouncing but his fuel computer indicated 12 gallons remaining. The FAA inspector's report stated that there was no indication of fuel in the tanks or on the ground at the accident site.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,032 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 6, 1995; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X47 Bunnell FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 29G Portage County OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number IAD96LA079.