Cessna 210 accident near North Hollywood, California, November 13, 1989
On November 13, 1989, a Cessna 210, registered N46JW, was destroyed in an accident near North Hollywood, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION FROM AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FALSE FUEL GAGE INDICATIONS, LACK OF A SUITABLE AREA FOR A FORCED LANDING, AND OBSTRUCTIONS (UTILITY POLE & VEHICLE(S) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1989
- Place
- North Hollywood, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N46JW · registry record · serial 57552
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ESTD THERE WAS 16 GAL OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPD LANCASTER FOR BURBANK, CA. AS HE WAS APCHG BURBANK TO LAND, THE ENG LOST POWER. UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT, HE TRIED TO FIND A ROADWAY OR STREET THAT WAS NOT OCCUPIED WITH VEHICLES. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT HIT A UTILITY POLE, THEN DROPPED TO THE SURFACE & SLID INTO A VEHICLE. LESS THAN 2 GAL OF FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING IN THE ACFT AFTER THE ACDNT. THE PLT RPRTD NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE ACFT, BUT SUGGESTED THAT WITH BETTER FUEL GAGES, THE ACDNT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
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: 148 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WJF Lancaster CA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: BUR Burbank CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.