Centerville Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Centerville, Iowa 52544
Tuesady, December 21, 1993 14:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM GREELEY, COLORADO, TO BURLINGTON, IOWA, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WHEN 20 MILES FORM CENTERVILLE, IOWA, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, ENGINE POWER WAS REGAINED. THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE TO 3,000 FT AND HEADED TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 2.5 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT, ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED A FENCE AND COLLIDED NOSE DOWN WITH THE TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED 5 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK, THE LEFT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CARBURETOR BOWL CONTAINED A COUPLE DROPS OF FUEL AND THE GASCOLATOR WAS EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane during the flight. Factors related to the accident were the inaccurate fuel consumption calculations for the airplane and the fence.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/21/1993
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CENTERVILLE
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52544
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CENTERVILLE MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TVK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1028
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID OTM
Elevation of weather observation facility 8450
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1340
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 21 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:47PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4791D
NTSB Number CHI94LA057
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 182
Aircraft Series Identifier 182
Aircraft Serial Number 34891
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENNETH HARRIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 601 CROSIER AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City GREELEY
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80631
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KENNETH HARRIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 601 CROSIER AVENUE
Operator City GREELEY
Operator State IA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 80631
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 GXY
Departure City GREELEY
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BRL
Destination City BURLINGTON
Destination State IA
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 --