# Accident 20050902024129A: Cessna 177A, Teterboro, NJ, September 2, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2005, 21:00 local time
- Place: Teterboro, NJ
- Airport: Teterboro
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2992° N, 74.5208° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2992&lon=-74.5208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30491, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30491-2017-06-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177A (registry code 2073706, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 222 total, 210 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC05FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05FA140) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050902024129A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2005, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DA^ DEPARTED BLOCK ISLAND AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 LOCAL TIME ON A FLIGHT BACK TO ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT WITH ^PRIVACY DAT^ AS A PASSENGER. SHE UTILIZED FLIGHT FOLLOWING. AT APPROXIMATELY 2117 LOCAL THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE NORTHEAST OF TETERBORO AIRPORT IN A PARKING LOT, DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT. THIS RESULTED IN FATAL INJURIES TO THE PILOT AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND THE RIGHT WING FUEL TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY FOUR GALLONS OF FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS DETERMINED TO BE POSITIONED TO THE RIGHT WING TANK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REMOVED. NO FUEL WAS IN THE PUMP, HOWEVER IT DID DRAW A VACUUM WHEN TESTED. THE CARBURETOR HAD APPROXIMATELY THREE OUNCES OF FUEL, WHICH COULD NOT BE PICKED UP BY THE UNIT. ALL FUEL LINES FORWARD OF THE FIREWALL WERE DEVOID OF ANY FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF LYCOMING. THE MAGNETOS PROVIDED SPARK AND THE SPARKPLUGS WERE NEW. ALL MECHANICAL UNITS ON THE ENGINE FUNCTIONED. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN SERVICED WITH 31 GALLONS OFFUEL ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC05FA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05FA140), Sep 3, 2005: Cessna 177A (N30491), S. Hackensack, NJ, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the pilot's impairment from prescription medication.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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