# Accident 19961013032139A: Cessna 182, Hillsdale, MI, October 13, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 13, 1996, 15:45 local time
- Place: Hillsdale, MI
- Airport: Hillsdale Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Missed Approach IFR
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9196° N, 84.6291° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9196&lon=-84.6291&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5720B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5720B-1997-07-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 182 (registry code 2072702, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182
- Reported engine: CONT O470L
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 235 total, 96 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961013032139A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOW ON FUEL, RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT, CRASHED INTO TREES SHORT OF RUNWAY. (.4)THE FLIGHT DEPARTED DU BOIS, PENNSYLVANIA WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF ZEELAND, MICHIGAN.  THE PILOT PLANNED A REFUELING STOP AT HENRY COUNTY AIRPORT, NAPOLEON, OHIO.  THE AIRPORT WAS CLOSED, SO THE PILOT DECIDED TO CONTINUE ON TO HILLSDALE AIRPORT, HILLSDALE, MICHIGAN WITH 19 TO 20 GALLONS REMAINING.  THE PILOT ADVISED TOLEDO APPROACH CONTROL HE NEEDED TO DIVERT TO HILLSDALE AIRPORT FOR FUEL.  ONE TO TWO MILES AWAY FROM HILLSDALE AIRPORT ON A DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 27, THE ENGINE LOST POWER.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27.  POST EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.  THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED THREE QUARTS OF FUEL.  FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED ALL EIGHT RETAINING CLIPS DISLODGED ON BOTH CELLS.  THE RIGHT HAND FUEL CELL RETAINED ITS SHAPE FAIRLY WELL, HOWEVER THE LEFT FUEL CELL WAS FOUND COLLAPSED.     (-23) AIRCRAFT ON DOWNWIND, ENGINE CUTTING OUT. ABORTED PATTERN, ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN FIELD. ENGINE SURGED TO FULL POWER THEN CUT OUT. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES APPROXIMATELY 100-150 YARDS NE OF APPROACH END OF RWY 27. 4 POB, 4 INJURIES, 2 SERIOUS. NO FATALITIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA007), Oct 13, 1996: Cessna 182 (N5720B), Hillsdale, MI, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to refuel which led to fuel exhaustion.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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