Cessna T210L accident near Chino, California, April 3, 1990
On April 3, 1990 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N9426K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a ferry 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 STARVATION DUE TO THE FUEL TANK OUTLETS BECOMING UNPORTED AS THE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERED FOR LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING FAILED TO INSURE THAT HE HAD ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1990 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N9426K · registry record · serial 210-60572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FERRY PILOT WAS ENROUTE TO HIS MAINTENANCE BASE ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AFTER BEING CLEARED TO LAND AND LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DISCLOSED THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 9.5 USEABLE GALLONS OF FUEL. THE CESSNA PILOTS SAFETY SUPPLEMENT STATES THAT, WHEN THE TANKS CONTAIN 11 GALLONS OR LESS, PROLONGED UNCOORDINATED FLIGHT CAN UNPORT THE FUEL TANK OUTLETS AND CAUSE FUEL STARVATION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,515 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command; 185 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 1989; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-HCR (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LGB Long Beach CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 6,222 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX90LA136.