Cessna P210N accident near Lawrence, Kansas, October 16, 1983
On October 16, 1983 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N731HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrence, Kansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- October 16, 1983 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrence, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210N · all P210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N731HP · no longer on the register · serial P21000463
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO FLT, THE FUEL GAGES INDICATED BOTH TANKS WERE FULL; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT VISUALLY VERIFY THE QUANTITY OF FUEL. DURING FLT, IN THE VICINITY OF EMPORIA, KS, THE ENG LOST POWER WHILE USING FUEL FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE PLT CHANGED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE RIGHT TANK & TURNED ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. THIS ACTION INCREASED THE FUEL PRESSURE & RESTARTED THE ENG. THERE WAS AN ARPT AT EMPORIA, BUT THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION AT LAWRENCE, KS. LATER, WHILE CONTINUING THE FLT, BOTH FUEL GAGE INDICATIONS DROPPED TO ZERO. THE PLT PUSHED ON THE GAGES & BOTH RETURNED TO A FULL INDICATION, THEN BECAME ERRATIC. AS HE WAS APPROACHING LAWRENCE, THE ENG LOST POWER AGAIN & WOULD NOT RESTART. THE PLT STARTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD, BUT UTILITY POLES & WIRES PARALLELED THE ROAD. HE THEN ELECTED TO MAKE A WHEELS-UP LANDING IN A ROUGH PASTURE. AN EXAM REVEALED AN ELECTRICAL OPEN BETWEEN THE FUEL INDICATORS & THE ELECTRICAL GROUND.
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: 600 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 522 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1983; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H77 Wellington KS at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 3LA Lawrence KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from FOE, 13 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.
Other NTSB records under N731HP 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.