Simenstad Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Osceola, Wisconsin 54020
Wednesday, June 16, 1999 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A loss of engine power was experienced approximately 30 minutes after takeoff. The airplane touched down in a corn field and contacted a ditch prior to coming to a stop about 400 feet short of the approach end of a runway. The pilot stated that the engine 'coughed' and he turned on the fuel boost pumps. The engine ran briefly prior to totally losing power. The pilot switched to the auxiliary fuel tank, but was unable to get the engine started. Post accident inspection revealed the tip and main tanks were empty, and the auxiliary fuel tank was full. The landing gear and flaps were extended during the forced landing descent.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's mismanagement of the fuel system in that he had the fuel selector positioned to a tank which did not contain sufficient fuel for the flight. Factors associated with the accident were the crop and the ditch which the airplane encountered during the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OSCEOLA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54020
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SIMENSTAD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OEO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 903
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1737 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID OEO
Elevation of weather observation facility 903
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8500
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 554
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 16 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1931
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N109F
NTSB Number CHI99LA186
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 North American
Aircraft Model NAVION L-17A
Aircraft Series Identifier NAVION L-1
Aircraft Serial Number NAV-4-839
Certified Max Gross Weight 2850
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 7 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 2325
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THURE H. ERICKSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 365 96TH LANE NE
Aircraft Owner City BLAINE
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55434
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 ANE
Departure City ANOKA
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RPD
Destination City RICE LAKE
Destination State WI
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 28
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --