Cessna 402 accident near Madison, Wisconsin, December 17, 2008
On December 17, 2008 at about 4:52 am local time, a Cessna 402, registered N4504B, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Madison, Wisconsin (Dane County Regional Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power during an instrument landing due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2008 · about 4:52 am local time
- Place
- Madison, Wisconsin · Dane County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 B · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- N4504B · no longer on the register · serial 402B1370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The on-demand cargo flight departed for the destination airport and was delayed en route due to repetitive destination airport closures. The closures were the result of snow-contaminated runways. The pilot then diverted to an alternate airport due to concerns about remaining fuel reserves. The airplane experienced a loss of engine power during an instrument approach at the alternate airport and impacted the ground about 200 yards short of the landing runway. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no usable fuel on board.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Enroute-holding (IFR) Air traffic event
- Structural icing during enroute
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,069 hours in all; 274 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,519 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 3, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,805 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 2008; 12,805 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors TSIO-520-E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Freight Runners Express, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 2:30 am
- Destination: MKE Milwaukee WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 9,006 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from MSN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4504B the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.