ATL89LA028

Factual narrative

THE PILOT HAD FLOWN A CESSNA 172 TO TAMPA TO PICK UP A CESSNA T210M FOR A FLIGHT TO LOUISVILLE, KY. THE 210 HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY FLOWN TO TAMPA FROM FT. MYERS BY THE OWNER. AFTER A PREFLIGHT IN WHICH THE PILOT SAID HE VISUALLY VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL, THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR LOUISVILLE. ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF STANDIFORD FIELD, LOUISVILLE, KY, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT FORCED LANDING IN TREES. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE. AFTER RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE, AN ENGINE RUN WAS COMPLETED AFTER ADDING FUEL TO THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM, THE LAST VERIFIED REFUELING OF THE AIRPLANE WAS AT FT. MYERS ON NOVEMBER 2, 1988 WHEN 16 GALLONS WERE ADDED TO 'TOP' THE TANKS. A CALCULATION OF THE FUEL REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FLIGHT FROM FT. MYERS TO TAMPA TO LOUISVILLE WAS MADE. THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT 86.3 GALLONS OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED UNDER OPTIMUM CONDITIONS. THE USABLE CAPACITY OF THE AIRPLANE WAS 89 GALLONS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12