Cessna T210N accident near Helena, Montana, September 27, 1992
On September 27, 1992 at about 2:39 am local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N1911U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Helena, Montana (Helena Regional airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO REFUEL EN ROUTE AND THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO AVOID THE FENCE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE DARK NIGHT CONDITIONS AND THE FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 1992 · about 2:39 am local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Helena Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 4 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N1911U · no longer on the register · serial 21064747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED BISMARK, ND, AND AFTER 3.7 HOURS OF FLIGHT LOST POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO HELENA, MT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED LESS THAN A GALLON OF FUEL REMAINING. THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT TOOK THE AIRCRAFT OVER OR NEAR SEVERAL AIRPORTS WHEREBY FUEL COULD HAVE BEEN OBTAINED. DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED AN AIRPORT PERIMETER FENCE. THE FORCED LANDING WAS CONDUCTED UNDER CONDITIONS OF DARKNESS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,957 hours in all; 7,555 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 9,768 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,569 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R11B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIS Bismark ND at 10:58 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 27, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 am from HLN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N1911U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.