Cessna 150M accident near Burlington, Wisconsin, September 26, 1993
On September 26, 1993 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N704ZF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burlington, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the improper fuel calculations by the pilot-in-command. Factors were the pilot-in-command's not refueling and uphill terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1993 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N704ZF · no longer on the register · serial 15078997
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CALCULATED WHAT HE THOUGHT WOULD BE ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT. HE DID NOT FUEL THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS OF FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE NOSE GEAR IMPACTED UPHILL TERRAIN DURING THE OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL IN TANKS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 95 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 39 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from MKE, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N704ZF 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.