Cessna T210M accident near La Pine, Oregon, June 16, 1998
On June 16, 1998, a Cessna T210M, registered N22CT, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Pine, Oregon. 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
Fuel starvation for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1998
- Place
- La Pine, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210M · all T210Ms on the register
- Registration
- N22CT · registry record · serial 21061708
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that while in cruise flight at 10,500 feet MSL, the engine slowly lost power and then quit approximately two hours after takeoff, shortly after switching from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. She said she used the emergency check list, switched tanks, and attempted to restart the engine on both the left and right tanks, without success. She provided a fueling invoice for 71.2 gallons of fuel, with 39.6 in the right tank and 31.6 in the left tank, for refueling accomplished on the day before the accident. FAA inspectors found the fuel system to be uncompromised, except for the tanks, which had been breached during the accident. The left side sump tank contained approximately 98 ounces of fuel; the right sump tank appeared to be empty. The fuel injection spider contained fuel and the screen was clean. The firewall fuel strainer contained approximately 2 ounces of fuel and its screen was clean. At the time of inspection, the fuel totalizer was energized and gave a momentary reading of 41.3 gallons used. No anomalies were found during the post-accident investigation that would preclude normal operation of the engine.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,674 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,670 as pilot in command; 572 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,671 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1998; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R98 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: S07 Bend OR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°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.