The pilot of the Cessna Cardinal reported that the engine experienced a total loss of power while in cruise flight near Elcho, Wis. He attempted to restart the engine without success, so he made a forced landing on a snow-covered field.
Upon landing, the plane nosed over and then came to rest on its back. The plane sustained substantial damage, including damage to both wings and the horizontal stabilizer.
The pilot said that he decided not to refuel before the flight because his fuel calculations showed that he should have had at least 30 minutes of fuel reserve upon arrival at the destination airport, however, he did not use a calibrated instrument in determining the preflight fuel quantity.
He further stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had refueled before the flight.
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the pilot’s inadequate preflight and in-flight fuel management, which led to a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
NTSB Identification: CEN13CA175
This February 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Learn from the misfortune of others
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If you’re too stupid to put fuel in the tank, then surrender your certificate to the FAA. I’ve made a promise to myself if I run out of fuel in an airplane, I must quit flying. Accidents like this cost all of us in higher insurance costs, so we all subsidize the pilot’s stupidity.
It’s hard to believe that this last entry for the newsletter is mostly about pilots who really don’t belong in the sky, or even near the left seat of an airplane. It’s a fact flying is not a cheap sport. In 1980 it cost me 2,500.00 to get my ticket, a 150 was 25.00 an hour the instructor was 20.00 an hour, remember those days, LOL. Well bucko’s those days are long gone. 100LL is not 1.05 a gallon. What’s my point, if you can’t afford the sport do something else, sell the plane, leave it on the tarmac with the engine running and the door open, with a sign free…….Fuel management BS the average GA plane is going to fly at cruise for four hours, land a FILL the f’n tanks if you can’t afford to do that. Well I hope you know the answer…..If you don’t, I’ll be looking for the way you planed your last trip…….