# Accident 20230727013509A: Cessna 177B, Cortland, IL, July 27, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 27, 2023, 12:32 local time
- Place: Cortland, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9114° N, 88.7042° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9114&lon=-88.7042&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30632, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30632) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 177B (registry code 2073708, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (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 177B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA330) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230727013509A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN23LA330](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA330), Jul 27, 2023: Cessna 177 (N30632), Cortland, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper fuel planning, that resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and a subsequent forced landing.

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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