Mitchell International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207
Saturday, May 28, 1994 17:33 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HIS FUEL TANKS WERE FULL BEFORE DEPARTING ON AN EXTENDED CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. DURING THE RETURN LEG OF THE TRIP, THE PILOT SAID HE NOTICED HIS FUEL GAUGES '...DIPPING...' ABOUT 70 MILES NORTH OF HIS HOME AIRPORT. HE ASKED ATC TO DIVERT HIS FLIGHT TO A CLOSER AIRPORT. WHILE TALKING TO ATC THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED INTO A LAKE. AFTER TELLING ATC THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE THE CONTROLLER REQUESTED HOW MUCH FUEL THE AIRPLANE HAD ON BOARD. THE PILOT SAID: 'YEA LOOKS LIKE WE'RE EMPTY SIR.' THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE AND FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO MEET THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. NO FUEL SLICK WAS FOUND AROUND THE AREA THE AIRPLANE SANK. NO FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ON THE AIRFRAME. THE TOP SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE'S WING WAS COLLAPSED INWARD, AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1733
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MILWAUKEE
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53207
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MKE
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1752 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 720
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1075
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 28 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4UD
NTSB Number CHI94LA182
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model P-210N
Aircraft Series Identifier P-210N
Aircraft Serial Number P21000549
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 31 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1690
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name D.C. LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2800 DEBORAH
Aircraft Owner City ZION
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60099
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 Y84
Departure City MACKINAC ISLAND
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ENW
Destination City KENOSHA
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 --