Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Senter, Michigan 49931
Saturday, July 10, 1993 11:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT 'RAN OUT OF GAS 10 MILES SHORT OF THE AIRPORT AND CRASHED INTO THICK WOODS.' THE PILOT IN COMMAND INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. ON SITE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE FUEL EXHAUSTION, UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING, AS WELL AS AN INADVERTENT STALL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SENTER
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49931
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
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 1151 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CMX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1285
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2040
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1630H
NTSB Number CHI93LA252
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7790317
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERZ FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 46255 HECKER
Aircraft Owner City UTICA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48317
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BERZ FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 15801 22 MILE RD
Operator City MT. CLEMENS
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48044
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 UIZ
Departure City UTICA
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMX
Destination City HANCOCK
Destination State MI
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 --