Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lake Station, Indiana, June 21, 1994
On June 21, 1994 at about 5:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N4572X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Station, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's inattention to the fuel supply. A factor was rough and uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1994 · about 5:24 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Station, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N4572X · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635080
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FT. MEADE, MARYLAND, AT 0822 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, WITH THE INTENDED DESTINATION OF GARY, INDIANA. AT 1219 THE PILOT REPORTED TO ATC THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. A FORCED LANDING WAS PLANNED ON A FREEWAY OFF-RAMP; HOWEVER, DUE TO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THE LANDING WAS MADE ADJACENT TO THE RAMP IN ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN. INSPECTION REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO LEAKS IN THE SYSTEM WERE FOUND.
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: 954 hours in all; 308 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 8, 1993; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FME Ft Meade MD at 1:22 pm
- Destination: GYY Gary IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from GYY, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.