# NTSB CHI98LA057: Cessna 402A, N728QA, Milwaukee, WI, December 9, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1997, 21:18 local (Dec 9, 1997, 03:18 UTC)
- Place: Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: 42.980728, -87.900474 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9807&lon=-87.9005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 10800
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10800/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA057

## Probable cause

Inadequate preflight planning/preparation, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The pilot said that he noted 10 gallons on 'each side' prior to initiating an approach.  He said that about five minutes later the left engine lost power and about three minutes after that the right engine also sustained a loss of power.  The damage to the airplane occurred during an undershoot to the intended runway.  Emergency response individuals found no usable fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks.  The pilot said that the accident might have been prevented by, 'Visual inspection of all fuel tank with calibrated device.'

## Factual narrative

On December 8, 1997, at 2118 central standard time, a Cessna 402A, N728QA, operating as Freight Runner Flight 1539, sustained substantial damage when it undershot a landing on runway 19R (9,690' X 200' dry/concrete) at General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The pilot reported no injuries.  The pilot reported engine trouble to Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Control during the approach to landing.  Emergency response individuals to the accident found no usable fuel in the airplane fuel tanks.  The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was operating on an IFR flight plan in instrument meteorological conditions.  The last departure point was Madison, Wisconsin, at 2010.

In his written statement the pilot stated that prior to initiating the approach, the indication was that 10 gallons remained on "each side."  This was about 5 minutes prior to the loss of power on the left engine which was followed about 3 minutes later by loss of power on the right engine.  The pilot said that the accident might have been prevented by, "Visual inspection of all fuel tank with calibrated device."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N728QA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N728QA-2009-08-18), registration cancelled 2009-08-18, S/N 402A0068, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 402A
- Registry model: [Cessna 402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-402a) (registry code 207590M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402A0068
- Airframe hours: 11030
- Engines: Continental TSIO-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Freight Runners Express, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 1997, 185 hours before
- Departed: MSN, MADISON, WI
- Destination: MKE
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MKE, General Mitchell Intl, runway 19R, 9,690 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,000 total, 300 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MKE

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19971208037529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971208037529A), Dec 8, 1997: Cessna 402A, Milwaukee, WI, Substantial damage. (Tty) freightrunner air taxi cargo acft crashed 3/4 mile short of rwy 19R when eng failed. Milwaukee, WI. (.4)the pilot said that he noted 10 gallons on 'each…

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.

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