Cessna P210N accident near Carson City, Nevada, June 7, 2006
On June 7, 2006 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N7762K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carson City, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel exhaustion which resulted in a loss of engine power during approach for landing due to the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft and the pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2006 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carson City, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N7762K · no longer on the register · serial 00425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he taxied his airplane from one hangar to another when he decided to take the airplane up for a quick flight. He flew the airplane around the local area and returned to the airport after about 15 minutes. The airplane was on a left downwind for runway 27, and the pilot had completed the before landing checklist (he extended the landing gear and lowered 20 degrees of flaps) when the "engine quit producing power." The pilot turned on the electric fuel pump, as well as the high boost pump, and made a left turn toward the runway. The pilot reported engaging the high boost pump switch until landing the airplane. He opened the throttle and applied a full rich mixture, but the engine did not restart. The pilot observed the fuel quantity gauges and noted that both right and left fuel tanks displayed needles "above the red warning area." The pilot realized the airplane would not make it to the airport and noticed a suitable landing site. He maneuvered the airplane over power lines and houses, and lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed. He flared the airplane for landing, but the nose landing gear contacted the ground before the main gear. Subsequently, the nose gear and main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest about 150 to 200 feet from the initial touchdown point after impacting a fence and a mailbox. Following the accident, inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Reno Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) examined the airplane at the accident site. According to the FSDO inspectors, approximately 1/2-inch of fuel or less remained in the left wing when it was placed in a level position. They reported that slightly more remained in the right fuel tank. The recovery personnel drained 3 gallons of fuel from the left fuel tank and 5 gallons from the right; however, he noted that some had spilled out during the recovery process. The pilot could not remember which fuel tank was selected at the time of the loss of engine power. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failures. He added that he had last refueled the airplane in May 2006, about a month prior to the accident, in Ely, Nevada, before flying back to Carson City. Post accident inspections revealed no mechanical irregularities.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 2,960 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXP Carson City NV at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
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.
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.