Cessna 210M accident near Stuart, Florida, December 28, 1989
On December 28, 1989 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 210M, registered N456GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuart, Florida (Witham airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER CALCULATION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY TO REACH HIS DESTINATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 1989 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210M · all 210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N456GS · registry record · serial 21061946
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED WHILE ON FINAL APPRAOCH. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A GOLF COURSE AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE RIGHT FUEL TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY, AND THE LEFT FUEL TANK HAD 1/2 GALLON. THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED TO FULL POWER AFTER THE ACCIDENT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED SOUTH BEND AT 1105 EST.
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: 2,613 hours in all; 1,116 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,463 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,355 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1989; 136 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SBN South Bend IN at 4:04 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PBI, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.