Cessna T210 accident near Hannibal, Missouri, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210, registered N69DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hannibal, Missouri (Hannibal airport). It was a personal 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
FUEL STARVATION FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WHICH RESULTED IN A FORCED LANDING AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hannibal, Missouri · Hannibal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N69DM · no longer on the register · serial T2100353
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER AND RETURNED TO HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, TO LAND. ON DOWNWIND LEG, THE ENGINE QUIT, AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE FUEL LINES AND SUMPS TO BE EMPTY OF FUEL. NO MEASURABLE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AFTER THE CRASH; HOWEVER, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS PRECLUDED ANY DETERMINATION OF QUANTITY OF FUEL REMAINING ON BOARD. REFUELING HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AT THE PILOT'S LAST STOP, ABOUT 120 MILES AWAY. CAUSE OF THE FUEL STARVATION COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 312 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 222 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 17, 1988; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CHI Chillicothe MO at 10:40 pm
- Destination: BFR Bedford IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 3,900 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:30 pm from UIN, 20 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.