Cessna P210N accident near Renton, Washington, July 11, 1990
On July 11, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna P210N, registered N4618K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Renton, Washington. 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT DISPLAYED POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING BY NOT ADEQUATELY FOLLOWING PROCEDURES OR DIRECTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH FUEL CONSUMPTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · 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
- N4618K · no longer on the register · serial P21000238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT HAD JUST CONTACTED THE TOWER FOR LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART THEN INITIATED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TREES AND SHRUB BRUSH. DURING THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION, THERE WAS NO FUEL NOTED IN THE LEFT WING NOR WAS THERE EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE. THE RIGHT WING OUT BOARD SIX FEET OF THE TIP HAD BEEN BROKEN AWAY AND FUEL WAS NOTED LEAKING FROM THE WING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD SWITCHED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO THE RIGHT MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINE QUIT. DURING THE ENGINE INSPECTION THERE WERE NO NOTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS EXCEPT THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO CAPACITOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN IT WAS BENCH TESTED.
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: 1,120 hours in all; 802 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,033 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,434 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1990; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520P (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CLS Chehaus WA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from SEA, 7 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.
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.