Cessna 210 accident near East Swanzey, New Hampshire, March 7, 1991
On March 7, 1991 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Cessna 210, registered N747IE, was substantially damaged in an accident near East Swanzey, New Hampshire. 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 LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS AIRPLANE AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, WHICH RESULTED IN MISCALCULATIONS OF FUEL CONSUMPTION AND SUBSEQUENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE LEAKING OF FUEL CAPS, THE INACCURATE FUEL QUANTITY AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPEREINCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1991 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- East Swanzey, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N747IE · no longer on the register · serial 57171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE AND ELECTED TO MAKE A 600 MILE TRIP WITHOUT TESTING THE FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THIS AIRPLANE. HE DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND THE ENGINE QUIT AS HE WAS APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DIRT BANK. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR FLIGHT TIME IN N747IE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
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: 159 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I68 Warren OH at 7:15 pm
- Destination: FIT Fitchburg MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
