Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
Tuesady, May 28, 1991 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AIRPLANE WAS FLYING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY TRIP WHEN THE ENGINE CEASED TO OPERATE. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ONTO A RAIN SOAKER PLOWED FIELD. UPON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE AND NOSED OVER. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PRE FLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE AND IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 24
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City COTTAGE GROVE
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55016
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 5
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 2050 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID FCM
Elevation of weather observation facility 906
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 388
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43674
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5172M
NTSB Number CHI91LA167
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model C-23
Aircraft Series Identifier C-23
Aircraft Serial Number M-2046
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 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GENERAL AVAITION SERVICES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13601 PIONEER TRAIL
Aircraft Owner City EDEN PRAIRIE
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55344
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GENERAL AVAITION SERVICES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 13601 PIONEER TRAIL
Operator City EDEN PRAIRIE
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55344
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 DLH
Departure City DULUTH
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 2222
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FCM
Destination City EDEN PRAIRIE
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 --