Cessna T210K accident near Bliss, Idaho, August 7, 1995
On August 7, 1995 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna T210K, registered N8273M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bliss, Idaho. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY MANAGE THE FUEL SYSTEM TO AVOID RUNNING A TANK DRY AT A LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 1995 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Bliss, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210K · all T210Ks on the register
- Registration
- N8273M · no longer on the register · serial 21059273
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SLUG HABITAT SURVEY FLIGHT AT 0700 WITH THE LEFT FUEL TANK TOPPED (44.3 GALLONS) AND THE RIGHT TANK SELECTED (25 GALLONS). 1.3 HOURS LATER, AT APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE STOPPED WHEN THE FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK WAS EXHAUSTED. THE PILOT SWITCHED TO THE FULL LEFT TANK AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART. THE RESTART WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL WITHIN THE ALTITUDE/TIME AVAILABLE, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING INTO A CORN FIELD WHICH WAS THE BEST AVAILABLE LANDING SITE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHEEL CROSSED A DEEP RUT AND SEPARATED, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,150 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,449 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1995; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOI Boise ID at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MUO, 33 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.
Other NTSB records under N8273M 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.