Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Station, Indiana 46405
Wednesday, February 25, 1987 21:05 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A GUARD RAIL DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON INTERSTATE 80 AFTER EXPERIENCING FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT HAD VISUALLY INSPECTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLIGHT AND THOUGHT THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL FOR THE TRIP. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT BY BOTH FAA AND INDIANA STATE POLICE PERSONNEL REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS EMPTY AND NO SIGNS OF FUEL LEAKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2105
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LAKE STATION
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46405
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 2
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2045 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID GYY
Elevation of weather observation facility 591
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 527
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 26 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33587
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N99QE
NTSB Number CHI87LA088
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model C-35
Aircraft Series Identifier C-35
Aircraft Serial Number D-2985
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 Feb 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3555
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TERRY L. DOWNS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3054 W. HIGHWAY 20
Aircraft Owner City LA PORTE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46350
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 PTK
Departure City PONTIAC
Departure State MI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1945
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CGX
Destination City CHICAGO
Destination State IL
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 --