Pilot in emergency landing failed in fuel-tank swap
As a small Cessna plane lost power over Lake Washington on Memorial Day, the pilot switched to a reserve fuel tank and tried to restart the engine. But the effort failed, forcing him to make an emergency landing at Seattle's Genesee Park, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
By
Charles E. Brown
Seattle Times staff reporter
As a small Cessna plane lost power over Lake Washington on Memorial Day, the pilot switched to a reserve fuel tank and tried to restart the engine. But the effort failed, forcing him to make an emergency landing at Seattle's Genesee Park.
According to a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, the unnamed pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector he had failed to use a checklist during the restart attempt and, as a result, forgot to activate the required fuel-boost pump after switching tanks.
An FAA inspector checked the plane on the grassy city field shortly after the May 25 mishap and discovered the right tank was empty and the left tank contained 15 gallons of fuel. Later, when fuel was placed in the left tank, the engine restarted, the NTSB report said.
Though the plane, a Cessna 210, landed safely that day without injury to its three occupants and a dog — or to anyone on the ground — the plane's right wing struck a post and was damaged.
The plane, which took off from Omak, was headed for Seattle's Boeing Field.
FAA spokesman Mike Fergus said the plane had been cleared to land at the airfield when it lost power.
