- Date
- September 26, 1993, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Burlington, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N704ZFCessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930926036629A
- Case key
- 9329
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the improper fuel calculations by the pilot-in-command. Factors were the pilot-in-command's not refueling and uphill terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot calculated what he thought would be adequate fuel for the proposed flight. He did not fuel the airplane prior to departure. After approximately two hours of flight the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power. The nose gear impacted uphill terrain during the off-airport forced landing. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed only unusable fuel in tanks.
Factual narrative
On September 26, 1993, at 1330 central daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N704ZF, registered to Weis Scott of Burlington, Wisconsin, and operated by a private rated pilot, experienced a loss of engine power and a forced landing was conducted into a farm field three miles west of the Burlington, Wisconsin airport. During the forced landing the nose landing gear impacted uphill terrain and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed Burlington, Wisconsin, at approximately 1115.
The pilot stated that he departed on the flight from Burlington with what he believed to be 12 gallons of fuel. He indicated that he landed at Kenosha at 1245, taxied back and departed for Burlington where he arrived at 1315. He stated that he then taxied back and decided to make one more take off and landing at Burlington. It was during this last flight that the engine power was lost. In his written statement the pilot stated that he, "Did not have sufficient fuel."
Post accident examination of the airplane revealed only unusable fuel on the airplane.
A Cessna 150 Owner's Manual excerpt is included as an addendum to this report. It shows "Cruise Performance" with lean mixture fuel consumption rates at 2,500 feet, from a low of 3.2 to a high of 7.0 gallons per hour.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704ZF
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078997
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Scott, Weis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 95 total · 74 in this make and model · 39 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKE, 32 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N704ZF · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.