Cessna T210N accident near Union City, California, December 2, 1997
On December 2, 1997 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1396U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Union City, California. It was a positioning 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
Blockage of the fuel flow transducer, which resulted in fuel starvation and the loss of engine power. Unsuitable terrain for an emergency landing was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1997 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Union City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1396U · no longer on the register · serial 21064691
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was being repositioned to home base following a partial repaint. While on short final to land the engine lost power and the aircraft landed in a residential area. Postaccident examination of the fuel and ignition systems found the fuel flow transducer to be restricted. After several attempts it was possible to blow air through it, but with resistance. Nothing foreign was found in the lines or blown from the transducer. The component was sent to the manufacturer of the fuel system and met flow specifications. The component was then sent to a testing laboratory for examination where it was opened and examined. The interior, turbine, and bearing points appeared to be normal and functional.
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
- Flight time: 1,143 hours in all; 1,090 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 1997; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSNS Salinas CA
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from HWD, 4 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.
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.