Cessna T210N accident near San Jose, California, September 1, 2007
On September 1, 2007 at about 7:33 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N5479A, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Jose, California (Reid-Hillview Of Santa Claraco airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's mismanagement of the fuel supply that resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2007 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- San Jose, California · Reid-Hillview Of Santa Claraco · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5479A · registry record · serial 21063462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made a forced landing and impacted trees about 1/4-mile short of the airport following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. About 10 minutes prior to arriving at his intended destination, fuel in the left tank was exhausted. The pilot repositioned the fuel selector to the right fuel tank that he believed contained at least 10 gallons of fuel in an attempt at restarting the engine; however, engine power was not restored.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,473 hours in all; 2,523 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31R, 3,101 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.