Cessna 210 accident near Bakersfield, California, January 5, 1992
On January 5, 1992 at about 3:54 am local time, a Cessna 210, registered N9508T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California (Meadows Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE WHEN THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A FUEL LEAK. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FRACTURED FUEL LINE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND OVERTORQUE OF THE LINE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 5, 1992 · about 3:54 am local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California · Meadows Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N9508T · no longer on the register · serial 57308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND A PASSENGER DEPARTED AN INTERMEDIATE FUEL STOP DURING A FERRY FLIGHT TO DELIVER THE AIRPLANE TO A NEW OWNER. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT SMELLED FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL DRIPPING INTO THE COCKPIT FROM UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE ENGINE QUIT. AFTER ROLLING OFF THE ACTIVE PORTION OF THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. FLAMES ERUPTED IN THE ENGINE AND COCKPIT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FLARED END OF A COPPER FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL METERING UNIT TO THE FUEL PRESSURE GAGE WAS FRACTURED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND OVERTORQUE. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED FUEL TO DRIP ONTO THE ALTERNATE-AIR CONTROL CABLE, RUN THROUGH THE FIREWALL TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN DRIP INTO THE COCKPIT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,500 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 13,400 as pilot in command; 10,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1991; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: MRY Monterey CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 10,857 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:20 am from BFL, 1 miles away
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.