Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440
Wednesday, April 10, 1996 10:17 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported to ATC that he was low on fuel. He was 16 miles from his destination airport. Eight minutes later the pilot reported he has a complete fuel loss and was going to have to land. The airplane was landed on a road without the landing gear being fully extended. The airplane slide off the road and down an embankment where it contacted a sign. Approximately 10 to 15 gallons of fuel spillage was noted at the accident site from the ruptured fuel tanks. No signs of previous leakage was noted during the post accident inspection. The right fuel tank gauge was inoperative.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the inadequate fuel supply for the intended flight which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors related to the accident were the pilot operating the airplane with an inoperative fuel gauge and the embankment which the airplane traveled down during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/10/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1017
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MINNEAPOLIS
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55440
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 4
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1020 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 869
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 149
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7713Q
NTSB Number CHI96LA129
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 T310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier T310Q
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q0213
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 68
Airframe Hours 3385
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MURPHY MOTORS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1801 2ND AVE. W.
Aircraft Owner City WILLISTON
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58801
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 ISN
Departure City WILLISTON
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 740
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MIC
Destination City
Destination State
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 --