FlightFinder
Check my flight
Casualties unknown

Pilot Forced to Land on Maryland Freeway Adjacent Ramp Due to Fuel Exhaustion (N4572X)

Lake Station, IN, US

On June 21, 1994, a Piper PA-28R-200 (registration N4572X) was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Station, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-19Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot departing Fort Meade, Maryland, reported fuel exhaustion en route to Gary, Indiana. Unable to land on the planned freeway off-ramp due to traffic, the aircraft touched down on rough terrain next to the ramp with no leaks found.

What happened

The flight departed from Fort Meade, Maryland, at 0822 Eastern Standard Time with Gary, Indiana, as the intended destination. At 1219, the pilot reported to air traffic control 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.

The investigation

Inspection revealed only unusable fuel remaining in the fuel tanks. No leaks in the system were found.

Findings

The pilot failed to maintain adequate fuel supply for the flight. Fuel exhaustion resulted in a forced landing on terrain adjacent to a freeway off-ramp.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing.
Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Jun 1994 Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Lake Station, IN?

A pilot departing Fort Meade, Maryland, reported fuel exhaustion en route to Gary, Indiana. Unable to land on the planned freeway off-ramp due to traffic, the aircraft touched down on rough terrain next to the ramp with no leaks found.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Jun 1994 involved a Piper PA-28R-200, registration N4572X, at Lake Station, IN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate fuel supply for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a forced landing.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X01507. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.