Cessna 210N accident near Swanton, Ohio, October 26, 2003
On October 26, 2003 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 210N, registered N5452V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swanton, Ohio (Toledo Express 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
The pilot's improper fuel tank selection, which resulted in fuel starvation, and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2003 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Swanton, Ohio · Toledo Express · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210N · all 210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5452V · no longer on the register · serial 21064316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on approach to land after a flight of about 4.5 hours, when it experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the nose gear sheared off, and the airplane flipped over. Examination of the airplane, which included the ignition and fuel systems, did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. It was noted that the right fuel tank was compromised and an undetermined amount of fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank. The left fuel tank was intact and empty. There was no evidence of a fuel spill in the area around the left fuel tank. The pilot reported that he conducted the flight alternating between the right and left fuel tanks, and the left fuel tank was selected at the time the engine lost power.
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: 1,364 hours in all; 733 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,320 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 2002; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,812 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-L1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 3:45 pm
- Destination: TOL Toledo OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 25, 10,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from TOL, 2 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.