Cessna 210L accident near North Platte, Nebraska, July 31, 1982
On July 31, 1982 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 210L, registered N22447, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Platte, Nebraska (Lee Bird Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1982 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · Lee Bird Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210L · all 210Ls on the register
- Registration
- N22447 · no longer on the register · serial 21059752
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD MANAGED HIS FUEL BY SWITCHING TANKS AT ONE TO TWO HOUR INTERVALS. WHILE ARRIVING, HE HAD BEEN USING FUEL FROM HIS RIGHT TANK AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE USING IT. AS HE WAS ALIGNING THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE RUNWAY, HE MADE A SHARP 360 DEGREE TURN TO AVOID ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AND OBTAIN SPACING. AT ABOUT THAT TIME THE ENGINE LOST POWER. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A HILL, AND DURING THE APPROACH, HE MANEUVERED THE PLANE UNDER POWER LINES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS STILL POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT TANK, WHICH WAS EMPTY. ABOUT 10.25 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT MAIN AND HEADER TANKS. WHEN CHECKED, THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED FROM 20 TO 45 LBS, BUT WOULD CHANGE EACH TIME POWER WAS APPLIED, THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL BAYS WERE LESS THAN 1/4 FULL, PROLONGED, UNCOORDINATED FLIGHT COULD RESULT IN FUEL STARVATION.
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
- Flight time: 363 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 635 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07C Auburn IN at 9:45 am
- Destination: Ogallala NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12L, 8,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 190°F (88°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 pm from LBF, 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.