Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Eureka, Wisconsin 54934
Wednesday, July 31, 1985 11:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE PILOT CALCULATED THAT WITH 48 GALLONS OF FUEL HE COULD MAKE THE FOUR HOUR FLIGHT TO OSHKOSH WITH ONE HOUR OF FUEL TO SPARE. UPON ARRIVING AT A POINT 25 MI SW OF OSHKOSH HE RECEIVED A REQUEST TO DESCEND 1200 FT, A REQUEST TO CLIMB 1200 FT AND A REQUEST TO CHANGE HEADING NUMBEROUS TIMES. HE COMPLIED WITH THESE REQUESTS WHICH WERE NECESSARY TO WORK HIM INTO THE TRAFFIC FLOW WHICHWAS CONGESTED DUE TO THE ANNUAL EAA FLY-IN. HIS ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT. FAA PERSONNEL STATED THAT IF THE PILOT WOULD HAVE WARNED THEM ABOUTHIS FUEL STATE BEFORE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO FAIL, THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A MORE DIRECT ROUTING TO THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1985
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City EUREKA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54934
Event Date Year 1985
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
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 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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2089
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1230
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29487
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8503E
NTSB Number CHI85FA325
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28761905
Certified Max Gross Weight 2450
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 Apr 15 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 3008
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 680 W. SUMMIT
Operator City ALLIANCE
Operator State OH
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 44601
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3G6
Departure City SEBRING
Departure State OH
Departure Country
Departure Time 812
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City OSHKOSH
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 10:30AM
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 --