Cessna C-210 accident near Calexico, California, September 2, 1991
On September 2, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna C-210, registered N2580S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calexico, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A NON-MECHANICAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FROM THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Calexico, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna C-210
- Registration
- N2580S · registry record · serial 21061333
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING A DESCENT SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING FUEL TANKS FROM THE RIGHT TANK TO THE LEFT TANK. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER INTO A RIVER. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED NO FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WATER WERE NOTICED IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE ENGINE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,106 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,518 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 1991; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L22 Yucca Valley CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from IPL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 LAX91LA381.