Cessna 182 accident near Byron, Wisconsin, October 24, 1993
On October 24, 1993 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5390B, was destroyed in an accident near Byron, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in his not refueling during the flight. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 1993 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5390B · no longer on the register · serial 33390
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED DEPARTING FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT WITH A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. WITHIN 1 MILE OF HIS DESTINATION, HE REPORTED, HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE STALLED WHEN SETTLING INTO GROUND EFFECT AND LANDED HARD ROCKING UP ONTO THE NOSE BEFORE COMING TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE FLIGHT WAS 4.5 HOURS LONG ACCORDING TO THE HOBBS METER. THERE WAS NO FUEL FOUND IN THE GALSCOLATOR AND A TOTAL OF 3.7 GALLONS WERE DRAINED FROM BOTH FUEL TANKS COLLECTIVELY. UNSUSABLE FUEL LOAD FOR THE AIRPLANE IS 5 GALLONS.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 366 hours in all; 146 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1993; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9V9 Chamberlain SD at 4:35 pm
- Destination: Fond Du Lac WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from OSH, 15 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.
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.