Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
Sunday, October 30, 1983 14:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT WAS DITCHED IN LAKE ONALASKA AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF DESTINATION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ACFT WAS PULLED FROM THE LAKE AND EXAMINED. THE 3 FAA INSPECTORS WHO EXAMINED THE ACFT VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FUEL IN THE ACFT TO OPERATE THE ENGINE. ALSO THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE PILOT SAID HE SHOULD NOT HAVE RELIED SO MUCH ON THE FUEL GAUGES AND A NEWLY OVERHAULED ENGINE HAS AN UNKNOWN RATE OF FUEL CONSUMPTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/30/1983
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1420
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LA CROSSE
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54601
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 10
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1575
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 21910
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23183
NTSB Number CHI84LA032
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 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 15068777
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Oct 12 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3506
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name COLUMBIA FLYERS, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. #1
Aircraft Owner City POYNETTE
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53995
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD ALLEN DEWEESE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4709 SCHOOL RD.
Operator City MADISON
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53704
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 MSN
Departure City MADISON
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LSE
Destination City LA CROSSE
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --