Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Michigan 48640
Thursday, October 4, 1990 16:37 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD CONDUCTED A ROUND-ROBIN TRIP FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT FUELING THE AIRCRAFT. ON THE RETURN LEG THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'LOST TOO MUCH AIRSPEED' AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT DID NOT REFUEL RESULTING IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE INADVERTENT STALL ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING WAS ALSO A CAUSE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/4/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1637
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIDLAND
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48640
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
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 1658 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID MBS
Elevation of weather observation facility 668
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 23
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 29
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1550
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 4 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1715
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42961
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2592Y
NTSB Number CHI91LA003
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 172D
Aircraft Series Identifier 172D
Aircraft Serial Number 17249892
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH, HUGH A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4570 CURVE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City FREELAND
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48623
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 GDW
Departure City GLADWIN
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1610
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 --