Cessna P-210N accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 28, 1994
On May 28, 1994 at about 10:33 pm local time, a Cessna P-210N, registered N4UD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Mitchell International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1994 · about 10:33 pm local time
- Place
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Mitchell International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P-210N · all P-210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4UD · registry record · serial P21000549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HIS FUEL TANKS WERE FULL BEFORE DEPARTING ON AN EXTENDED CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. DURING THE RETURN LEG OF THE TRIP, THE PILOT SAID HE NOTICED HIS FUEL GAUGES '...DIPPING...' ABOUT 70 MILES NORTH OF HIS HOME AIRPORT. HE ASKED ATC TO DIVERT HIS FLIGHT TO A CLOSER AIRPORT. WHILE TALKING TO ATC THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DITCHED INTO A LAKE. AFTER TELLING ATC THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE THE CONTROLLER REQUESTED HOW MUCH FUEL THE AIRPLANE HAD ON BOARD. THE PILOT SAID: 'YEA LOOKS LIKE WE'RE EMPTY SIR.' THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE AND FUEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO MEET THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. NO FUEL SLICK WAS FOUND AROUND THE AREA THE AIRPLANE SANK. NO FUEL STAINS WERE FOUND ON THE AIRFRAME. THE TOP SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE'S WING WAS COLLAPSED INWARD, AND THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 70 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 346 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,690 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y84 Mackinac Island MI at 8:00 pm
- Destination: ENW Kenosha WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from MKE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 N4UD 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.