NTSB Factual Report

On December 16, 2008, at 2252 central standard time, a Cessna 402B, N4504B, operated by Freight Runners Express, Inc., received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing near Madison, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand cargo flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Appleton, Wisconsin, at 2030 and was en route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In preparation for an on-demand cargo flight, the pilot reportedly obtained preflight information at 1935 indicating General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was closed but was to reopen at 2015. The pilot was informed during taxi for departure that there would be a 10 minute departure delay. After the delay, the airplane departed and the pilot reduced cruise speed by about 10 knots due to "backed up" traffic at MKE. While en route, air traffic control (ATC) informed the pilot that MKE reopened.

The pilot received radar vectors that took the airplane over Lake Michigan and then to the west for the ILS 7R approach. When the airplane reached a midfield downwind position during the approach, MKE closed again due to a poor braking action report. The airplane was then vectored to a holding fix where the pilot completed 1 1/2 turns before receiving radar vectors for ILS 7R. The airplane flew the ILS 7R approach, was on a 2 mile final, and cleared to land, when the pilot was instructed by ATC to perform a missed approach. A poor braking action report was reported and MKE closed again.

The pilot contacted the operator who told the pilot to divert to Chicago/Rockford International Airport (RFD), Rockford, Illinois. The pilot asked ATC for minimal vectors to RFD and did not use the specific verbiage, "minimum fuel." He noticed that the airplane's indicated airspeed began to decrease 15-20 knots with an accumulation of ice on the wings, which he described as severe. He decided that he would not be able to divert to RFD due to fuel and diverted to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN), Madison, Wisconsin, since it was closer. He executed a climb to 8,000 feet to get out of the icing. He requested and received clearance for the ILS 36 approach at MSN. The left engine began to sputter as the airplane neared the approach's decision height. The pilot shut the engine down and thereafter was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane impacted terrain approximately 200 yards short of runway 36. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed no usable fuel in the airplane's fuel tanks.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power during an instrument landing due to fuel exhaustion.