Cessna T210L accident near Fallbrook, California, August 18, 1992
On August 18, 1992 at about 4:28 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N60856, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fallbrook, California. It was a business 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
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1992 · about 4:28 pm local time
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N60856 · no longer on the register · serial 21060599
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A NEARBY FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BERM DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED THAT FUEL SYSTEM CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. ONLY 5 TOTAL GALLONS OF FUEL WERE FOUND IN THE AIRCRAFT TANKS. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST FUELED 8/10/92 IN TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA, WITH THE ADDITION OF 65.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE PILOT SAID HE ORDERED THE TANKS TOPPED AT THAT TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN FLOWN 2.5 HOURS TO OAKLAND AND PARKED WITHOUT REFUELING. ON 8/16/92 THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN IN THE LOCAL OAKLAND AREA FOR ABOUT ONE HALF HOUR AND AGAIN PARKED WITHOUT REFUELING. ON THE DAY OF THE MISHAP THE PILOT FLEW THE AIRCRAFT 2.5 HOURS TO FALLBROOK, WHERE THE ENGINE QUIT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 350 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1992; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-W-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OAK Oakland CA at 2:12 pm
- Destination: L18 Fallbrook CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 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.
Other NTSB records under N60856 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.