Hillsdale Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Tuesady, October 13, 1992 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON THE RETURN LEG OF A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. HE WAS EIGHT MILES WEST OF AN AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON RUNWAY 09 WHICH WAS 3801 FEET LONG. THE WIND WAS 270 AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT WAS HIGH AND FAST WHEN TRYING TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT. HE ABORTED THE ATTEMPT AND TRIED TO LAND IN A FIELD TO THE EAST OF THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS FAST AGAIN. HE PULLED UP A SECOND TIME AND MADE A TURN TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A HARD LANDING IN A FIELD. APPROXIMATELY ONE QUART OF FUEL WAS IN THE LEFT TANK, AND APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE-HALF GALLONS OF FUEL WAS IN THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT STATED, '...I MADE THE DECISION TO NOT OBTAIN FUEL,' BEFORE HE DEPARTED ON HIS RETURN LEG OF THE FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING IN NOT REFUELING THE AIRCRAFT AND A POORLY PLANNED FORCED LANDING BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HILLSDALE
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49242
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HILLSDALE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y85
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 90
Airport Elevation 1182
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1535 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 20
Weather Observation Facility ID JXN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1000
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
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 --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 695
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 14 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48108
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N69223
NTSB Number CHI93LA010
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15282568
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
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 BRANCH COUNTY AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 400 AIRPORT DR., BOX 272
Aircraft Owner City COLDWATER
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49036
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BRANCH COUNTY AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 400 AIRPORT DR., BOX 272
Operator City COLDWATER
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 49036
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SKY
Departure City SANDUSKY
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D96
Destination City COLDWATER
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 3801
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --