Cessna 182 N5720B

Summary

On 13 October 1996 at about 19:45 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N5720B was involved in an accident near Hillsdale, Michigan, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 October 1996 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsdale, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Hillsdale Municipal (Y85)

Coordinates

41.9196, -84.6291

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N5720B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dubois → Zeeland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA007

2 people were seriously injured.

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to refuel which led to fuel exhaustion.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.