# NTSB ATL82IA198: Cessna 177RG, N33226, Near Sparta, GA, July 15, 1982 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1982, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Near Sparta, GA - Coordinates: 33.27061, -82.970993 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2706&lon=-82.9710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 15, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 71933 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82IA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71933/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82IA198 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED POWER FAILURE WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT EN ROUTE FROM WILMINGTON, NC TO ATLANTA GA. FOLLOWING THE POWER LOSS, THE PILOT LANDED GEAR UP IN AN OPEN FIELD NEAR SPARTA, GA. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD LAST BEEN REFUELED ON 7-2-82 WITH 46.3 GALLONS OF 100LL AVIATION GASOLINE. SINCE THAT TIME, THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN A TOTAL OF 4 HOURS AND 43 MINUTES. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND 6.8 GALLONS OF AMBER COLORED FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. ANALYSIS OF THE RECOVERED FUEL INDICATED THAT IT WAS REGULAR LEADED GASOLINE. WHILE THE FAA INSPECTORS WERE ON SCENE, THEY WERE TOLD BY A LOCAL RESIDENT THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE MISHAP, THE PILOT PURCHASED ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE FROM HIM AND HIS SON. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE PILOT SAID THAT HE DID NOT INTEND TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITH IT, BUT ONLY WANTED TO "SATISFY THE MAN". ## Aircraft - Registration: N33226 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0929 - Airframe hours: 1520 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Yunaska, Robert L. - Registered owner: Yunaska, Robert L. - Departed: ILM, WILMINGTON, NC - Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 17,000 total, 9 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 165 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCN, 50 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). - [Incident 19820715063169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820715063169I), Jul 15, 1982: Cessna 177RG, Sparta, GA, Minor damage. Ran out of fuel en route IFR. Made visual wheels up landing in a field. Put auto fuel in aircraft after landing. 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.