Forced Landing Near West Chicago Due to Fuel Exhaustion

Casualties unknown • St. Charles, IL, US

A pilot performed a forced landing in a field after running out of fuel while attempting to navigate low weather ceilings near Dupage County Airport.

What happened

The pilot was attempting to return to the flight's origin airport due to encountering bad weather. Upon approaching the vicinity of Lewis/Lockport Airport in Romeoville, Illinois, the pilot found that low ceilings prevented a landing at that location.

As the pilot continued, he noted that fuel levels were becoming low. Unsure of his exact position, the pilot attempted to locate Dupage County Airport in West Chicago, Illinois. However, upon reaching the area of the Dupage airport, the pilot encountered similarly low ceilings. Just as the pilot was preparing to declare an emergency, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot identified a large field and executed a forced landing.

The investigation

An examination of the aircraft's four fuel tanks revealed that there was no fuel present in any of them. A mechanical inspection of the airplane showed no anomalies.

Probable cause

The aircraft ran out of fuel during flight while the pilot was attempting to find an airport for landing due to low weather ceilings.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-01-17 Piper PA-32-260 accident near St. Charles, IL?

A pilot performed a forced landing in a field after running out of fuel while attempting to navigate low weather ceilings near Dupage County Airport.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-01-17 involved a Piper PA-32-260, registration N40712, operated by Valdemaras Bylaitis, at St. Charles, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft ran out of fuel during flight while the pilot was attempting to find an airport for landing due to low weather ceilings.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001204X00025. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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