Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Howard, Kansas 67349
Sunday, March 17, 1996 16:25 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot received a weather briefing at 0932 for a cross-country flight from Osage City, KS to Joplin, MO, to Newton, KS and back to Osage City. The weather forecast given to the pilot for the intended route was clouds greater than 10,000 feet with restricted visibility. The pilot departed Osage City at 1140. Upon arrival at Joplin the fuel tanks were topped off with 9.7 gals. The pilot then departed Joplin for Newton, KS (144 nm) at 1340. The pilot reported that low clouds and rain were encountered en route to Newton, and he subsequently (at 1607) advised AFSS that he was returning to Osage City due to weather. He also advised he was low on fuel. At 1625 the engine had a complete loss of power and a forced landing was made in a plowed field. The accident location was approximately 87 nm miles from Joplin. After the accident, the engine was test-run and it operated normally.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's failure to obtain timely assistance after encountering adverse weather during a cross-country flight which led to fuel exhaustion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1625
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City HOWARD
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67349
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID CN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 147
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1532Q
NTSB Number CHI96LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15072832
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 4 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 22
Airframe Hours 4398
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KERMIT CRANE
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 351
Aircraft Owner City AUBURN
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66402
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 JLN
Departure City JOPLIN
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1340
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EWK
Destination City NEWTON
Destination State KS
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --