Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waubay, South Dakota 57273
Sunday, January 23, 1994 13:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE DEPARTED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH ABOUT 13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE. AFTER 1.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT (PER HOBBS METER RECORDS) THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, THEN QUIT. RESTART ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW COVERED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN IN DEEP SNOW DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES READ 1/2 AND 1/4 FULL (RIGHT AND LEFT, RESPECTIVELY) WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS NOT ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO THE FLIGHT TIME/FUEL STATUS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATES A FUEL CONSUMPTION RATE OF ABOUT 5.8 GALLONS PER HOUR AT 75% POWER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot-in-command's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident is the false indications on the fuel gauges.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/23/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City WAUBAY
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57273
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1185
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 24 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 815
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:24AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N10449
NTSB Number CHI94LA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15074863
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 2680
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 307 2ND STREET SW
Aircraft Owner City BROOKINGS
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 57006
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MILLER AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 307 2ND STREET SW
Operator City BROOKINGS
Operator State SD
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 57006
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BKX
Departure City BROOKINGS
Departure State SD
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2001 5:01PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --