Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Sunday, January 7, 1990 13:20 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT ON A SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE, THEN QUIT COMPLETELY. WHEN ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE FAILED, HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A SNOW-COVERED FIELD. DURING POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, INVESTIGATORS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL ON BOARD. INVESTIGATORS DRAINED THE FUEL SYSTEM, OBTAINING A TOTAL OF 1.5 GALLONS OF FUEL (ONE GALLON FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND 1/2 GALLON FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK). THE MANUFACTURER CONSIDERED THE LAST 1.75 GALLONS IN EACH FUEL TANK TO BE UNUSABLE FUEL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL IN THE FUEL LINES OR AT THE CARBURETOR; THE FUEL TANKS/SYSTEM WAS NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE GROUND IMPACT SEQUENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City TRAVERSE CITY
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49684
Event Date Year 1990
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 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) 90
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 7 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40661
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6763G
NTSB Number CHI90LA061
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 15072263
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 2 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 3200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROMEO AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15340 32 MILE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ROMEO
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48465
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROMEO AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 15340 32 MILE ROAD
Operator City ROMEO
Operator State MI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 48065
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 D98
Departure City ROMEO
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1035
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TVC
Destination City TRAVERSE CITY
Destination State MI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --