NTSB Factual Report

On October 9, 2004, approximately 1810 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210M, N732TE, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the it struck a fence and terrain during a forced landing 1 mile east of Harriet Alexander Field (04V), Salida, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, pilot-rated passenger, and three other passengers on board the airplane were not injured. The flight originated from Bullfrog Basin, Utah, approximately 1630.

The following is based on a telephone conversation and the accident report submitted by the pilot: The pilot-rated passenger aboard the accident flight -- the pilot's flight instructor -- had flown the airplane from Colorado Springs to Bullfrog Basin via Montrose, Colorado, the previous week. The pilot followed in an automobile carrying a week's worth of supplies. The pilot estimated the instructor had 45 gallons of fuel on board when he departed Colorado Springs. The flight to Montrose lasted 1 hour, 20 minutes. At Montrose, the instructor purchased 40 gallons of fuel. The flight from Montrose to Bullfrog Basin took 1 hour, 10 minutes.

Prior to departing Bullfrog Basin, the pilot asked his flight instructor if he had purchased any fuel. The instructor thought he was referring to gasoline purchased for the houseboat, and he replied he had purchased 60 gallons. The pilot said that when they took off from Bullfrog Basin, he thought he had more fuel on board than there actually was. The takeoff and climb to 11,500 feet was made on the left tank. After 30 minutes, he switched to the right tank. Knowing the right fuel gauge was unreliable, he drew fuel from the right tank until it ran dry about 1 hour later. At this point, the airplane was 10 miles west on Monarch Pass. He switched back to the left tank and climbed to 13,500 feet. The airplane had now been in the air approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes.

Ten to 15 minutes later, after he had passed over Salida, Colorado, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The left fuel gauge indicated 1/3 full. All attempts to restore engine power were to no avail. He turned and glided towards the Salida airport. When he turned final for runway 24, he lost sight of the runway because the sun was in his eyes. He selected a field and touched down 1/4-mile to the right runway centerline and 1 mile short of the runway. The landing gear was torn off and the empennage was extensively damaged. The left wing struck a fence post and breached the fuel tank. Fuel leaked from the tank, "but not a whole lot." The pilot said he used an average fuel consumption rate of 15 gallons per hour fuel when making endurance and range calculations. He estimated he had an hour's worth of fuel on board plus reserves. Later, he admitted the engine most likely post power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which failed to determine the fuel supply was inadequate resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.