NTSB Factual Report

On September 9, 2003, at 1500 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 210L airplane, N93860, impacted trees approximately 1/4 mile northwest of Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY), Monterey, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. The flight departed Columbia, California, about 1420, and a pop up instrument flight plan was filed for the approach into Monterey.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that the engine failed while he was on an instrument landing system (ILS) approach into Monterey, at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl). He then declared an emergency to Monterey Approach. While descending through the overcast, he steered a direct course to the airport. He came out of the overcast at 1,800 feet msl. Initially, the pilot felt he may be able to land runway 10; however, the airplane landed short and collided with a tree.

Initial responders to the accident site from the Naval Postgraduate School reported that the airplane came to rest on a golf course. There were no traces of fuel at the accident scene, nor was the smell of fuel present. There was no fuel leaking from the airplane. A portion of the right wing was located in a tree.

Witnesses to the accident reported that during the emergency landing, the right wing hit a tree, the airplane spun, and then dove, nose-first, into the ground. There was no smell or trace of fuel at the accident site.

The Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) and representatives from Teledyne Continental Motors and Cessna examined the wreckage on September 22, 2003. No anomalies were noted with the airframe and its components. The engine was examined and all spark plugs were clean with no mechanical deformation. The top spark plugs were removed and visually examined. The electrodes were white in color. The cylinders were examined using a lighted borescope. The piston domes were gray in color.

Investigators manually rotated the engine. The engine rotated freely and the valves moved approximately the same amount of lift in firing order. Investigators obtained thumb compression on all cylinders in firing order. Both magnetos produced spark at all posts.

The engine driven fuel pump was removed. After being primed with solvent, the fuel pump was rotated and ejected solvent from its outlet port. One ounce of blue colored fuel was found in the gascolator. There was no fuel staining evident on the airframe or engine components.

Two fueling receipts dated August 28, 2003, indicated that the airplane was filled with 85 gallons of fuel.

According to the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) the airplane holds a total of 90 gallons of fuel, with 1 gallon unusable.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in a loss of engine power during an instrument approach to land, and an in-flight collision with a tree and terrain.