Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wahoo, Nebraska 68066
Saturday, November 10, 2001 16:29 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While northeast of Lincoln, Nebraska, the pilot reported to the Lincoln Municipal Airport (LNK) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) that he had bottomed out on fuel. ATCT issued the pilot vectors to the Wahoo Municipal Airport, Wahoo, Nebraska. The pilot reported he had the airport in sight but was not going to be able to make it. The airplane impacted trees and terrain 3 miles west of AHQ. An examination of the airplane's fuel system showed no evidence of fuel. An examination of the airplane's engine and remaining systems showed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation resulting in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight, and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot during the subsequent forced landing. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot's inadequate fuel calculations, fuel exhaustion, and the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1629
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Wahoo
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68066
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 11
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID LNK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1219
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 24
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) 1622
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 11822
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 10 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1911
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 4 2002 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Linclon, Nebraska FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3916D
NTSB Number CHI02LA026
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 34616
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Jul 1 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 63.6
Airframe Hours 3256.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vincent Brian Botsko
Aircraft Owner Street Address 321 East 57th Avenue, Suite B
Aircraft Owner City Denver
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80211
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 BJC
Departure City Denver
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1215
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MLE
Destination City Omaha
Destination State NE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 16 2002 12:23PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --