Trenton Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trenton, Nebraska 69044
Wednesday, August 5, 1998 12:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en route at 13,000 feet a total loss of engine power was experienced. The pilot was vectored to a nearby airport. He reported that upon reaching the airport he was too high so he circled the traffic pattern. The airplane stalled and contacted the terrain in a nose down attitude just short of the runway. Post accident inspection revealed residual fuel remained in the fuel tanks. No sign of fuel leakage was found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot misjudged the forced landing approach and stalled the airplane while attempting to lengthen his glide on final approach and inadequate preflight planning that led to the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TRENTON
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69044
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRENTON MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9V2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2796
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1800 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID MCK
Elevation of weather observation facility 2579
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2900
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
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) 30
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 914
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1557
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N514HP
NTSB Number CHI98LA304
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 182M
Aircraft Series Identifier 182M
Aircraft Serial Number 18259904
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 Mar 5 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2947
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GERNALD D. WOLFE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1409 LINCOLN AVE
Aircraft Owner City ROCK SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82901
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 RKS
Departure City ROCK SPRINGS
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 810
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CSB
Destination City CAMBRIDGE
Destination State NE
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 32
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 280
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --