Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bemidji, Minnesota 56601
Friday, January 4, 1991 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A SOLO PRIVATE PILOT RENTED AN AIRPLANE AND WAS INFORMED IT HAD FLOWN SINCE ITS LAST REFUELING. HE DETERMINED THE FUEL AVAILABLE FOR THE FLIGHT BY READING THE FUEL GAUGES. HE STATES THE GUAGES WERE OFF AND READ ONE QUARTER TANK WHEN FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A FROZEN LAKE WHERE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER IN 12 INCHES OF SNOW.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/4/1991
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BEMIDJI
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56601
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID BJT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1390
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 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) 28
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43043
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:11AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6803G
NTSB Number CHI91LA063
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 150L
Aircraft Series Identifier 150L
Aircraft Serial Number 15072303
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DURST AIRCRAFT, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1583 HIGHWAY #1
Aircraft Owner City ELY
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55731
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DURST AIRCRAFT, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1583 HIGHWAY #1
Operator City ELY
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55731
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 ELO
Departure City ELY
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BJI
Destination City BEMIDJI
Destination State MN
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --