# NTSB ATL01LA054: Cessna 177, N2890X, Zephyrhills, FL, May 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2001, 01:13 local (05:13 UTC) - Place: Zephyrhills, FL - Coordinates: 28.24069, -82.229927 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2407&lon=-82.2299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: TAMPA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52264/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA054 ## Probable cause THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT PLAN FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (cause) ## Analysis After refueling ,the pilot was enroute home when the engine suddenly lost power and quit. The airplane collided with the ground as he attempted an emergency landing. No fuel was recovered from the fuel system and no fuel was observed at the accident site. The pilot reported refueling with 20 gallons of fuel before departing, but stated he did not visually check the fuel quantity. No mechanical malfunction was found with the engine. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2001, at 0113 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N2890X experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Zephyrhills, Florida. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight departed Key West , Florida, at 2230 hours. According to the pilot, he and his family had flown to Key West, Florida, earlier that day with full fuel onboard the airplane. After refueling in Key West, Florida, the pilot was enroute home when the engine suddenly lost power and quit. Attempts by the pilot to restore engine full engine power failed. The pilot selected an emergency landing area and the airplane collided with the ground one mile south of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed both wings had separated from the aircraft and the cabin roof showed impact damage. During the examination of the airplane, no fuel was recovered from the fuel system and no fuel was observed on the ground at the accident site. The pilot reported refueling with 20 gallons of aviation fuel at Key West before departing, but stated he did not visually check the fuel quantity. No mechanical malfunction was found with the engine. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2890X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2890X-2017-02-17), registration cancelled 2017-02-17, S/N 17700290, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177-00290 - Engines: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Danny Abbruzzese - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2000 - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Destination: ZPH, ZEPHRYHILLS, FL - Airport: ZPH, Zephryhills, Fl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 25 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: TPA, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010514014749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010514014749A), May 14, 2001: Cessna 177, Zephyrhills, FL, No damage. (-23) The pilot-in-command of N2890X, Mr. Danny abbruzzese, requested a fuel uplift of twenty gallons of fuel at key west, Florida (eyw). He then departed key… ## Other investigations on N2890X (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 MIA99LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA101), Mar 6, 1999: Cessna 177 (N2890X), Lantana, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged the flare, resulting in a hard landing, and subsequent impact with the runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.