Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Martelle, Iowa 52305
Wednesday, December 7, 1988 17:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ANTICIPATING A FUEL SHORTAGE ON A PERSONAL CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PLT REQUESTED THE NEAREST AIRPORT FROM APPROACH CONTROL. THE NEAREST APT WAS WITHIN FIVE MILES OF HIS DESTINATION APT SO CONTINUED ON COURSE. ABOUT 15 MILES FROM HIS DESTINATION, AND HAVING SWITCHED TO HIS LAST FUEL TANK WHICH INDICATED LESS THAN 1/4 TANK, THE PRESSURE GAUGE FLICKERED INDICATING IMMINENT FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LDG ON A RURAL ROAD INSTEAD OF RISKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN UPCOMING POPULATED AREA. HE SELECTED A COUNTRY ROAD TO LAND ON WHILE HE STILL HAD POWER. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, THE ACFT STRUCK A ROAD SIGN CAUSING THE ACFT TO VEER INTO A DITCH. THE PLT SAID HIS FUEL COMPUTATIONS WERE BASED ON FUEL USED AND REMAINING. THE PLT DID NOT VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL QUANTITY BEFORE DEPARTING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/7/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MARTELLE
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52305
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 1730 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID CID
Elevation of weather observation facility 863
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
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) 1447
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37572
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N198V
NTSB Number MKC89LA031
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30214
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 Jul 23 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 1569
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PICK, ALFRED
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 1, BOX 161A
Aircraft Owner City PLANO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75075
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PICK, ALFRED
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT 1, BOX 161A
Operator City PLANO
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75075
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 LAN
Departure City LANSING
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C17
Destination City MARION
Destination State IA
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --