# NTSB ATL82DA040: Cessna 177, N34975, Athens, GA, January 24, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1982, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place: Athens, GA
- Coordinates: 34.000053, -83.340568 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0001&lon=-83.3406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA040

## Analysis

DURING AN ENROUTE REFUELING STOP ON 1/21 THE PILOT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING AROUND THE LEFT TANK CAP. AFTER ARRIVING AT SANFORD THE ACFT WAS REFUELED WITH APPX 50 GALS & A LOCAL FLIGHT OF ABOUT 12 MIN WAS FLOWN. THE ACFT HAS A USABLE FUEL CAPACITY OF 59 GALS. THE TANKS WERE NOT CHECKED AFTER THE LOCAL FLIGHT. ON 1/24 THE PILOT DEPARTED SANFORD FOR ATHENS,GA. HEADWINDS WERE ENCOUNTERED ENROUTE CAUSING A 30 TO 45 MIN DELAY IN ARRIVAL. WHILE DESCENDING FROM 6500 FT THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AFTER LANDING IN A SOFT MUDDY FIELD THE NOSE GEAR SHEARED & THE ACFT FLIPPED INVERTED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inattentive, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N34975](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34975-1982-04-08), registration cancelled 1982-04-08, S/N 17702127, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17702127
- Airframe hours: 2414
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Albert A. Sandberg
- Registered owner: Albert A. Sandberg
- Departed: AHN, SANFORD, FL
- Destination: ATHENS, GA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: AHN, Athens Municipal, runway 27, 4,992 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 156 total, 154 in this make and model, 117 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 106 °F

## 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 19820124001779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820124001779A), Jan 24, 1982: Cessna 177B, Athens, GA, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach to destination airport. Flipped over landing in soft field. Unported due low fuel level.

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.

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