Butler Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Butler, Missouri 64730
Sunday, June 16, 2002 20:51 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a pond and tall grass in a 1,000 foot long field. The airplane nosed over during the landing. The pilot continued past a planned refueling stop in order to take advantage of a tailwind. The flight had been en route for approximately 5 hours and 20 minutes when the pilot diverted to an alternate airport to obtain fuel. This alternate airport was approximately one hour from the intended destination. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges were indicating a 1/4 fuel remaining in each fuel tank when he decided to divert to the alternate airport. During the approach to the alternate airport , the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. Examination of the fuel system revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fuel exhaustion, the inadequate fuel consumption calculations by the pilot, and the inadequate in-flight planning/decision by the pilot. The unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing is a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2051
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Butler
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64730
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BUTLER MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BUM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 160
Airport Elevation 892
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13558
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 17 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 28
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Kansas City, Missouri

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5953R
NTSB Number CHI02LA167
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17253622
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
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 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 200
Airframe Hours 2577
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rosselit Enterprises, L. L. P.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2020 Emery Street
Aircraft Owner City Las Vegas
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89134
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name James Rosselit
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO Box 827
Operator City Ozark
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 65721
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 RAP
Departure City Rapid City
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SGF
Destination City Springfield
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 11 2003 6:49PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --