Cessna 182D accident near Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, July 27, 1999
On July 27, 1999 at about 1:48 am local time, a Cessna 182D, registered N8878X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fond Du Lac, 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 and the subsequent fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the crops and the soft field conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1999 · about 1:48 am local time
- Place
- Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182D · all 182Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8878X · no longer on the register · serial 18253278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with the terrain during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. The airplane departed Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where the airplane was topped off with 50 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel. They departed Cape Girardeau at 1720 cdt with the intention of landing at Oshkosh. Upon reaching the Oshkosh area the pilot was notified the airport was closed. The pilot stated he decided to land at Fond Du Lac so he turned to the east, contacted the Fond Du Lac tower, and was cleared to land on runway 18. On final approach the engine lost all power. A forced landing was made in a soft soy bean field north of the airport. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed no fuel present 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: 172 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 128 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1998; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGI Cape Girardeau MO at 10:20 pm
- Destination: FLD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.