Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ladysmith, Wisconsin 54848
Saturday, June 13, 1992 13:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE BECAME LOST ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM ATC AND WAS GIVEN DIRECTIONS TO AN AIRPORT WHERE HE LANDED AND REFUELED. HE RESUMED HIS FLIGHT BUT BECAME LOST AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER DEPARTURE HE NOTED THE FUEL GAUGES ON THE AIRPLANE SHOWED EMPTY. HE ELECTED TO PERFORM AN OFF AIRPORT PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. HE ABORTED THE LANDING AFTER TOUCHDOWN AND COLLIDED WITH TREES AS HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB AWAY FROM THE FIELD. A WITNESS WHO ASSISTED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED HE SMELLED FUEL WHILE HE WAS AT THE SITE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE VERIFIED THE PRESENCE OF FUEL IN BOTH WING TANKS. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ATTAIN A PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE ATTEMPTED ABORT OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ATTEMPT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City LADYSMITH
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54848
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1249 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID EAU
Elevation of weather observation facility 907
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 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) 2658
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47458
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52142
NTSB Number CHI92LA173
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17274423
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 Apr 3 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 3651
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name A & M AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10302 S. NAPER ROMEO ROAD
Aircraft Owner City PLAINFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60544
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name A & M AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 10302 S. NAPER ROMEO ROAD
Operator City PLAINFIELD
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60544
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 LSE
Departure City LACROSS
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1154
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HAYWARD
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
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 --