Cessna T210L accident near Arcata, California, February 4, 1994
On February 4, 1994 at about 2:55 pm local time, a Cessna T210L, registered N93159, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcata, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
fuel starvation resulting from the pilot's improper in-flight planning and his failure to correctly monitor the aircraft's fuel system and to position the selector valve on a tank containing fuel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 1994 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Arcata, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210L · all T210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N93159 · no longer on the register · serial 21060287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger took off, climbed to 11,000 feet, and proceeded toward their destination. After flying for about 33 minutes, the pilot reported to the radar controller that the engine was rough. When the engine began losing power, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing. The pilot elected to land in a field and collided with a wood pile. An examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the left wing tank; however, fuel was observed leaking from the impact damaged right wing. The fuel selector was found positioned to the left tank. No mechanical malfunctions were found during the examination of the airframe, and the engine was successfully test run.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,340 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,318 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1993; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R*H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEC Crescent City CA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: SFO San Francisco CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from ACV, 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.