Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to refuel which resulted in a loss of power due to fuel exhaustion.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, his fuel consumption was higher than planned because of low altitude sight-seeing while en route. During the approach to his destination airport, both fuel gauges began indicating empty, and soon thereafter the engine quit. He switched tanks and attempted restarting the engine, but was unsuccessful. The aircraft impacted terrain during the forced landing. The pilot reported that he checked the tanks after the accident, and found that both sides were nearly empty.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 25, 1995, approximately 1220 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 210, N9492T, impacted the terrain during a forced landing attempt at Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody, Wyoming. The private pilot and his three passengers received minor injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The personal pleasure flight, which departed Jeffco Airport, Denver, Colorado, about four hours earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot had canceled his VFR flight plan while en route, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, his fuel consumption was higher then planned because of the maneuvering that took place during sightseeing at lower altitudes while en route. While he was on approach to Yellowstone Airport, both fuel gauges began indicating empty, and soon thereafter the engine quit. The pilot switched the selector to the tank that was not being used, but could not get the engine to restart. The pilot reported that he checked the tanks after the accident, and found that both sides were nearly empty. -