Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lacrosse, Wisconsin 54601
Monday, December 18, 1989 14:32 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER INITIATING HIS DESCENT TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND THEN QUIT. THE STUDENT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES AND TREES DURING ITS EMERGENCY DESCENT. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF USEABLE FUEL IN THE FUEL TANKS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL SPILLAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE DEPARTING ON THIS, THE SECOND LEG OF HIS SOLO CROSS COUNTRY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER PRE-FLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE A PLAN TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT AS NECESSARY. THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT, AS DID THE CFI'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE STUDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/18/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1432
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LACROSSE
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54601
Event Date Year 1989
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
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 1421 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID LSE
Elevation of weather observation facility 654
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 2
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) -15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1257
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 18 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39553
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N704NP
NTSB Number CHI90LA046
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 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier 150M
Aircraft Serial Number 15078745
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 Nov 29 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 8804
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VALLEY AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2959 MANOR DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City OSHKOSH
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name VALLEY AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2959 MANOR DRIVE
Operator City OSHKOSH
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 54901
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code RFD
Departure City ROCKFORD
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LSE
Destination City LACROSSE
Destination State WI
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 --