St Louis Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottage Hill, Illinois 62018
Thursday, July 21, 1994 21:03 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, BUT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH HE DID VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE FUEL GAGES IN THE AIRPLANE, BUT RELIED ON THE USE OF A STOPWATCH TO DETERMINE REMAINING FUEL. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A FORCED LANDING ENSUED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. FOUR OTHERS IN THE HOME WERE NOT INJURED. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his inaccurate fuel consumption calculations.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2103
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COTTAGE HILL
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62018
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ST LOUIS REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ALN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 290
Airport Elevation 544
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2050 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID ALN
Elevation of weather observation facility 544
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 1
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1203
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 21 2002 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7101M
NTSB Number CHI94LA236
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 175
Aircraft Series Identifier 175
Aircraft Serial Number 55401
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 6 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MERINO, JOAQUIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1, BOX 344A
Aircraft Owner City PAWNEE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62558
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 RFD
Departure City ROCKFORD
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CPS
Destination City SAINT LOUIS
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 11
Runway Length 8101
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --