Cessna T210M accident near Carson, California, July 14, 1988
On July 14, 1988 at about 10:03 pm local time, a Cessna T210M, registered N732QZ, was destroyed in an accident near Carson, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AS OUTLINED IN THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK BY SWITCHING THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE FULLEST TANK. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION OF THE RIGHT WING TANK AS A RESULT OF FUEL SIPHONING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1988 · about 10:03 pm local time
- Place
- Carson, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N732QZ · no longer on the register · serial 210 61702
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA T210M CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL ROOF AFTER A LOSS OF ENG PWR, DURING CRUISE DESCENT TO ENTER ARPT TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK AND HEADER TANK WERE EMPTY. THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS FOUND WEDGED IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION. FUEL STAINS WERE VISIBLE ON THE RIGHT WING EMANATING FROM SEVERAL FUEL TANK ACCESS PANELS. THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK HAD SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR THE PILOT TO REACH THE DESTINATION. THE EMERG PROCEDURE OUTLINED IN THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK DIRECTS THE PILOT TO SWITCH TO THE FULLEST TANK. THE PILOT STATED WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAKE THE INTENDED FORCED LANDING AREA HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A SCHOOL YARD. HE THEN OVERSHOT THE SCHOOL YARD. THE ACFT WAS CONFIGURED WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND THE FLAPS UP. EMERGENCY PROCEDURE RECOMMENDS 30 DEGS OF FLAPS FOR A FORCED LANDING.
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: 802 hours in all; 642 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AVX Catalina CA at 9:40 pm
- Destination: CPM Compton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 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.