- Date
- September 8, 1995, 19:03 local (23:03 UTC)
- Place
- Yale, MI
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N97109Cessna 182
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950908028329A
- Case key
- 10030
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
loss of engine power due to an inadequate fuel supply leading to fuel exhaustion. The inadvertent stall during the forced landing was a factor.
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 reported that he believed there was ten gallons of fuel in each tank according to visual and gage readings prior to the flight. After flying for approximately one hour, while entering downwind, the engine 'sputtered' and lost power. The pilot attempted to land in a field and 'stalled' the airplane at an altitude of approximately 50 feet. The airplane impacted in a soy bean field. The pilot reported that the fuel tanks were empty when he examined them after the accident. Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were empty. No evidence of fuel system malfunction was reported.
Factual narrative
On September 8, 1995, at 1903 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182, N97109, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during a forced landing in Yale, Michigan. The commercial pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. One passenger reported no injuries. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight originated about 1800. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he believed there was ten gallons of fuel in each tank according to visual and gage readings prior to the flight. After flying for approximately one hour, while entering downwind, the engine "sputtered" and lost power. The pilot attempted to land in a field and "stalled" the airplane at an altitude of approximately 50 feet. The airplane impacted in a soy bean field. The pilot reported that the fuel tanks were empty when he examined them after the accident.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector who examined the wreckage reported that the pilot stated that he "believed he ran out of fuel." Examination of the wreckage revealed the fuel strainer and carburetor bowl were empty. No evidence of fuel system malfunction was reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N97109
- Reported as
- Cessna 182
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18266982
- Airframe hours
- 2,729
- Engine
- Continental O-470-U, 230 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kenneth J. Bricker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 8, 1994 · 48 hours before
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
- 31
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 507 total · 263 in this make and model · 458 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.