Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Moorhead, Minnesota 56560
Sunday, July 15, 1990 19:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS OF CRUISE FLIGHT, AS HE WAS DESCENDING FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A GRAVEL ROAD APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES SOUTH-EAST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND INVESTIGATORS FOUND ONLY UNUSEABLE FUEL IN THE FUAL TANKS. THE PILOT REPORTED 95 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND FUEL SYSTEM MONITORING, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/15/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1950
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MOORHEAD
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56560
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2018 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID FAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 896
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 868
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 57
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42043
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:08PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9873J
NTSB Number CHI90LA188
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number A1500682
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 --
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 SCHONERT, KEITH W
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 1 BOX 340
Aircraft Owner City HARWOOD
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58042
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SCHONERT, KEITH W.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address R.R.1, P.O. BOX 340
Operator City HARWOOD
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58042
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 1653
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D54
Destination City WEST FARGO
Destination State ND
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --