FTW94LA079

Factual narrative

On February 3, 1994, approximately 1721 central standard time, a Cessna T210H, N6914R, was destroyed during a forced landing about 8 miles northwest of the McAllen, Texas, Airport. The pilot received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The following is based on the pilot/operator report. The pilot missed two instrument approaches to the Corpus Christi, Texas, Airport, so he diverted to McAllen, Texas, his alternate. Shortly after intercepting the localizer course at McAllen, the engine lost power. The pilot said both fuel gauges indicated 1/4 fuel in each tank. He declared an emergency and, after emerging from the overcast, elected to land wheels up in an open field about 8 miles northwest of the airport. He inadvertently stalled the airplane 25 feet above the ground. The pilot said he had flown 4.0 hours and the airplane had an endurance of 5.5 hours. Salvage personnel and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who went to the site reported the fuel tanks had not been compromised, and there was no fuel in the tanks. In addition, when the wings were demated from the fuselage, no fuel came out of the fuel lines. AFTER MAKING TWO MISSED APPROACHES TO THE CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, AIRPORT, THE PILOT DIVERTED TO MCALLEN, TX, HIS ALTERNATE. SHORTLY AFTER JOINING THE LOCALIZER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, BOTH FUEL GAUGES INDICATED 1/4 FUEL IN EACH TANK. THE PILOT MADE AN INTENTIONAL WHEELS UP FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD 8 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. HE INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD FLOWN 4.0 HOURS AND THE AIRPLANE HAD AN ENDURANCE OF 5.5 HOURS. SALVAGE PERSONNEL AND AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED FINDING NO FUEL IN THE TANKS. WHEN THE WINGS WERE DEMATED FROM THE FUSELAGE, NO FUEL CAME OUT OF THE FUEL LINES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12