Cessna T210 accident near Londonderry, New Hampshire, December 13, 1992
On December 13, 1992 at about 1:37 pm local time, a Cessna T210, registered N210PQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Londonderry, 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 INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 1992 · about 1:37 pm local time
- Place
- Londonderry, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210 · all T210s on the register
- Registration
- N210PQ · no longer on the register · serial 210G4553
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT WITH WHAT HE REPORTED AS AN ESTIMATED 26 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD, OR 1.6 HOURS OF FLYING TIME. THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS AN ESTIMATED 1 HOUR AND 35 MINUTES FLYING TIME AWAY. APPROXIMATELY 14 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, AT 11,000 FEET, THE PILOT REQUESTED TO LAND AT A CLOSER AIRPORT FOR FUEL. APPROXIMATELY TWO AND ONE HALF MILES FROM THE ALTERNATE AIRPORT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GEAR DOWN LANDING TO A SNOW COVERED FIELD. ON FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO COMPUTATIONS MADE WITH DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY THE PILOT, WHICH INCLUDED HIS ANTICIPATORY FUEL LOG, THE PILOT DEPARTED ON THE FLIGHT WITH AN ESTIMATED 13.5 GALLONS OF FUEL, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE PILOTS ESTIMATE OF 17 GALLONS PER HOUR FUEL BURN, GAVE HIM APPROXIMATELY 48 MINUTES OF FUEL IN THE TANKS AT TAKE-OFF. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 50 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT.
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: 443 hours in all; 373 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,231 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1992; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: P-Q Controls, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 4B8 Plainville CT at 12:40 pm
- Destination: MHT Manchester NH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from MHT, 1 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.