N6737B

On May 14, 1994, about 1857 central daylight time, a Cessna T210M, N6737B, was destroyed when it collided with trees during a forced landing near Burlington Airport, Burlington, Iowa. The airline transport certificated pilot was seriously injured, one passenger received serious injuries, and two passengers received minor injuries. The personal flight originated at Lamar, Colorado, at 1330 mountain daylight time, with an intended destination of Peoria, Illinois. An IFR flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

The pilot stated he instructed the lineman at Lamar to fill both tanks to 1 inch below the top. He never dipped the tanks after they were fueled, and all fuel calculations were made on an approximate amount of fuel. The pilot filed an IFR flight plan while airborne, at 1736. At 1808, he was cleared direct to Peoria.

After crossing over Burlington, Iowa, the pilot stated he was preparing for the ILS approach to Peoria when the engine lost power. He switched tanks and restored the power to the engine, and noticed that both tanks indicated empty. At 1845, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and requested vectors to the nearest airport. At this time, he also reported to air traffic control that he had a "sick passenger" on board. Air traffic control provided him vectors to the Burlington Airport. At 1855, the pilot broadcast a mayday with an engine failure.

The pilot made a forced landing 5 miles southeast of the Burlington Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no fuel in the right tank, and approximately 3 ounces of fuel in the left tank. The fuel selector was on the left tank.