Cessna 175 accident near Cottage Hill, Illinois, July 22, 1994
On July 22, 1994 at about 2:03 am local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7101M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottage Hill, Illinois (St Louis Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his inaccurate fuel consumption calculations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1994 · about 2:03 am local time
- Place
- Cottage Hill, Illinois · St Louis Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7101M · no longer on the register · serial 55401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HE HAD ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, BUT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH HE DID VISUALLY CHECK THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO THE DEPARTURE ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE FUEL GAGES IN THE AIRPLANE, BUT RELIED ON THE USE OF A STOPWATCH TO DETERMINE REMAINING FUEL. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A FORCED LANDING ENSUED. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A RESIDENCE DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND ONE OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. FOUR OTHERS IN THE HOME WERE NOT INJURED. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACCIDENT REVEALED ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE FUEL 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: 1,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RFD Rockford IL
- Destination: CPS Saint Louis MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 8,101 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from ALN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.