Event FTW02LA208

Factual narrative

On July 16, 2002, approximately 0850 central daylight time, a Cessna 210A single-engine airplane, N9466X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, Sherman, Texas. The airplane was registered to Superior Software Solutions, Inc., and was operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the McKinney Municipal Airport, McKinney, Texas, at 0837, and was destined for Sherman. According to the pilot, he ascertained that each fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel by dipping the tanks before departing from McKinney. The pilot found no anomalies during the preflight inspection and departed for the 10 minute flight to Sherman. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the Sherman Municipal Airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from each of the fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the Sherman Municipal Airport. The airplane came to rest upright. The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, reported that the engine fire wall was wrinkled and the left wing was damaged. The fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel, and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel. The fuel system has a capacity of 84.0 gallons; 42.0 gallons in each wing tank, of which 2.0 gallons is unusable in any flight attitude. The pilot ascertained that each wing fuel tank contained approximately 14 gallons of fuel before departing for a 10 minute flight. The pilot reported that the fuel selector was in the right tank position for the entire flight. The airplane was on approach to the destination airport, in a left bank, at 800 feet agl, when the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine three times from both fuel tanks; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, a forced landing was executed to a vacant parking lot adjacent to a gas station, two miles northeast of the destination airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel selector was in the right tank position and the fuel boost pump was in the "ON" position. The left fuel tank did not contain any fuel and the right fuel tank contained 13 gallons of fuel. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12