Cessna 182 accident near Hillsdale, Michigan, October 13, 1996
On October 13, 1996 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5720B, was destroyed in an accident near Hillsdale, Michigan (Hillsdale Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision and failure to refuel which led to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 1996 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hillsdale, Michigan · Hillsdale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5720B · no longer on the register · serial 33720
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight departed Du Bois, Pennsylvania with an intended destination of Zeeland, Michigan. The pilot planned a refueling stop at Henry County Airport, Napoleon, Ohio. The airport was closed, so the pilot decided to continue on to Hillsdale Airport, Hillsdale, Michigan with 19 to 20 gallons remaining. The pilot advised Toledo Approach Control he needed to divert to Hillsdale Airport for fuel. One to two miles away from Hillsdale Airport on a downwind for runway 27, the engine lost power. The airplane struck trees in an attempt to land on runway 27. Post examination of the airplane revealed no fuel in the right fuel tank. The left fuel tank contained three quarts of fuel. Further inspection of the fuel tanks revealed all eight retaining clips dislodged on both cells. The right hand fuel cell retained its shape fairly well, however the left fuel cell was found collapsed.
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: 235 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 120 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,942 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1996; 28 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: DUJ Dubois PA at 4:10 pm
- Destination: Z98 Zeeland MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,802 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from JXN, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.