Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iola, Wisconsin 54945
Wednesday, July 12, 1989 15:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT DURING A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE 'CUT OUT' AND HE HAD TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN A HAYFIELD. THE PILOT SET UP FOR A DOWNWIND LANDING; THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN AN AREA OF TREES BEYOND THE FIELD SELECTED BY THE PILOT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED WITH MINIMAL FUEL FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT, AND HE ESTIMATED THAT THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 'LITTLE MORE THAN UNUSEABLE FUEL' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THAT HIS MANEUVERING MIGHT HAVE INTERRUPTED THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE RAN SATISFACTORILY WHEN SUPPLIED WITH FUEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE FUEL QUANTITY BEING NEAR THE UNUSABLE QUANTITY WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOTS MISJUDGED APPROACH DURING A FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH TREES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/12/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City IOLA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54945
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID CWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1277
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 922
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39036
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4054J
NTSB Number CHI89LA133
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 15065354
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 4 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 4584
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NIVEN, DAVID A.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 511 DEPOT ST., P.O. BOX 37
Aircraft Owner City MANAWA
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54949
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 68C
Departure City IOLA
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 68C
Destination City IOLA
Destination State WI
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 --