What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On July 27, 2023 N30632 a Cessna 177 departed from evansville regional airport (kevv) to grand geneva resort airport (C02) with a planned fuel stop at dekalb taylor municipal airport (kdkb). Approximately 25 miles from kdkb airport the pilot in command (PIC) started a descent from 4,500 feet and according to the checklist moved the fuel selector from left to both. At this time both fuel tanks were indicating approximately 1/8 full. During the approach to the airport the engine quit. The PIC turned the aircraft to enter a right base for runway 02 at kdkb and announced his intentions. During the glide the PIC determined that they could not make the airport so he elected to land in a cornfield southeast of the runway. During the landing the airplane touched down hard in an unstable condition.
The airframe sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage from just aft of main landing gear to the nose of the aircraft. Both wing outboard sections partially separated. Cabin crushed in. Right main and nose landing gear was separated. The engine compartment was twisted 90 degrees counterclockwise. The propeller was secured to the hub. Both blades did not show evidence of scuffing damage with the ground. One blade was bent near the root.
Both the pilot and passenger suffered significant injuries.
During our investigation the PIC was not responsive to phone calls and did not respond to the certified letter. This office was able to talk to the pilot's lawyer. This case is being closed with no further information received from the PIC. If more information is obtained after the closing of this report an amendment will be made.
As the FAA filed it
ON JULY 27, 2023 N30632 A CESSNA 177 DEPARTED FROM EVANSVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT (KEVV) TO GRAND GENEVA RESORT AIRPORT (C02) WITH A PLANNED FUEL STOP AT DEKALB TAYLOR MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KDKB). APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES FROM KDKB AIRPORT THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STARTED A DESCENT FROM 4,500 FEET AND ACCORDING TO THE CHECKLIST MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM LEFT TO BOTH. AT THIS TIME BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE INDICATING APPROXIMATELY 1/8 FULL. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT THE ENGINE QUIT. THE PIC TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER A RIGHT BASE FOR RUNWAY 02 AT KDKB AND ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTIONS. DURING THE GLIDE THE PIC DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT SO HE ELECTED TO LAND IN A CORNFIELD SOUTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN AN UNSTABLE CONDITION.
THE AIRFRAME SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS AND FUSELAGE FROM JUST AFT OF MAIN LANDING GEAR TO THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH WING OUTBOARD SECTIONS PARTIALLY SEPARATED. CABIN CRUSHED IN. RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS SEPARATED. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TWISTED 90 DEGREES COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE PROPELLER WAS SECURED TO THE HUB. BOTH BLADES DID NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF SCUFFING DAMAGE WITH THE GROUND. ONE BLADE WAS BENT NEAR THE ROOT.
BOTH THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.
DURING OUR INVESTIGATION THE PIC WAS NOT RESPONSIVE TO PHONE CALLS AND DID NOT RESPOND TO THE CERTIFIED LETTER. THIS OFFICE WAS ABLE TO TALK TO THE PILOT'S LAWYER. THIS CASE IS BEING CLOSED WITH NO FURTHER INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE PIC. IF MORE INFORMATION IS OBTAINED AFTER THE CLOSING OF THIS REPORT AN AMENDMENT WILL BE MADE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.