Cessna 210 accident near Henderson, Nevada, June 30, 2003
On June 30, 2003 at about 4:34 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9544T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Henderson, Nevada (Henderson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A bolt in the fuel selector that restricted the flow of fuel to the engine, which resulted in fuel starvation and a partial loss of engine power during the final approach to land.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2003 · about 4:34 pm local time
- Place
- Henderson, Nevada · Henderson · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9544T · no longer on the register · serial 57344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported a loss of engine power while in the landing pattern. He was unable to restart the engine, and the airplane landed short of the runway, receiving structural damage. A post-accident engine examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions with the engine. The fuel selector was removed from the airplane, and a 3/16-inch hex bolt was found protruding into one of the engine fuel ports, effectively restricting the flow of fuel to the engine. The spark plugs were examined and compared to a manufacturer's condition chart. The chart comparison disclosed lean operating signatures.
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: 141 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470 Ser (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Cielo Airport NM at 1:00 pm
- Destination: KHND Henderson NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from KHND, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.