Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Killen, Alabama 35645
Sunday, January 7, 1990 14:35 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLOWN FROM JOLIET, IL TO PULASKI, TN. AFTER LANDING THE PIC WAS TOLD FUEL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. SHE DEPARTED TO FLY TO MUSCLE SHOALS, AL, 37 MI SW OF PULASKI ABOUT 8 MI FROM MUSCLE SHOALS THE ENGINE QUIT. UPON DEPARTURE FROM JOLIET THE FUEL WAS FULL & ENDURANCE WAS EXPECTED TO BE 4+30 HOURS. THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WA REPORTED AS 1435. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE & FOUND NO FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR OF THE INVERTED AIRPLANE. HE REPORTED THAT THE PIC STATED AT THE ACCIDENT SITE THAT THE FUEL HAD BEEN EXHAUSTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/7/1990
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City KILLEN
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35645
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1346 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID MSL
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 1123
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 15
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42342
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 N7401X
NTSB Number ATL90LA048
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 172B
Aircraft Series Identifier 172B
Aircraft Serial Number 172-47901
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Sep 19 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARLAND & DELORES KEPPEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4117 S. FOREST AVE.
Aircraft Owner City BROOKFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60513
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 GZS
Departure City PULASKI
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSL
Destination City MUSCLE SHOALS
Destination State AL
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 --