Cessna T210M accident near Mentor, Kentucky, October 10, 1996
On October 10, 1996 at about 11:46 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N6163N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mentor, Kentucky. It was a personal 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 improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. Factors relating to the accident were: the inaccurate fuel quantity gage, and the light condition at dusk.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1996 · about 11:46 pm local time
- Place
- Mentor, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6163N · no longer on the register · serial 21062934
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was en route, when the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot made a forced landing into a park at dusk, where the airplane struck trees. The airplane had been airborne about 5 hours and 18 minutes. Calculations showed that during that time, it would have consumed about 98 gallons of fuel; the airplane's usable fuel supply was 98 gallons. After the accident, the pilot stated that the left fuel tank gage read 1/2 full, when the engine lost power. Further examination revealed that with the master switch on, the left tank gage read 20 gallons, while the right tank gage read empty. When the master switch was off, the left tank gage read 10 gallons, and the right tank gage read empty.
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
- Flight time: 635 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 562 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,890 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1996; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-120 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL at 5:28 pm
- Destination: ISZ Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from CVG, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N6163N 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.