# NTSB CEN22LA036: Cessna 177, N29615, Hudson Oaks, TX, October 31, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 30, 2021, 19:10 local (Oct 31, 2021, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Hudson Oaks, TX - Coordinates: 32.747967, -97.67409 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7480&lon=-97.6741&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 104257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104257/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104257 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA036 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing was the pilot’s improper fuel planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a personal flight, the pilot was descending the airplane for landing and added throttle, but the engine did not respond. The pilot decided to make a forced landing, during which the airplane collided with power lines and terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine found damage in the engine area that precluded documentation of the throttle cable’s full range of travel. Examination of the accident site found no evidence of fuel in the tanks, but fuel did not appear to have leaked from the tanks. The pilot reported that the airplane should have contained at least 10 gallons of fuel. Thus, the pilot’s fuel calculations could have been incorrect, resulting in fuel exhaustion. In addition, the airplane was operating in an area conducive for the formation of serious icing at glide power. However, the pilot stated that he applied carburetor heat and enrichened the mixture when he began descending. The postaccident airplane and engine examination revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, and based on the available evidence, the reason for the partial loss of engine power was most likely the result of fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 2021, about 1910 central daylight time, a Cessna 177 airplane, N29615, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Parker County Airport (WEA), Weatherford, Texas. The pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The flight departed from Guthrie-Edmond Regional Airport (GOK), Guthrie, Oklahoma, about 1733 and was destined for WEA. The pilot stated that the flight was uneventful until the airplane was descending from 10,500 ft mean sea level for landing. At that time, engine power was reduced, carburetor heat was applied, the mixture was enrichened, and the pilot “cleared” the engine by adding and reducing power periodically. The pilot reported that the descent was then “entirely normal” until the last 15 to 20 seconds of flight. The pilot stated that he added “a slight amount” of power, but the engine did not respond. The pilot attempted to restore engine power but was unsuccessful. While maneuvering for a forced landing, the airplane collided with power lines and terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that a sudden loss of engine power (stop or change in rpm) did not occur and that the engine ”simply stopped responding to throttle inputs.” Postaccident examination of the accident site found that the airplane tanks did not appear to contain fuel and that fuel had not leaked from the tanks. The pilot reported that the airplane should have contained at least 10 gallons of fuel. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted. Accident damage to the engine section prevented documentation of the throttle cable’s full range of travel. The cabling remained properly attached to the carburetor, and no restriction to the throttle arm was noted. No preimpact anomalies were found with the airframe or engine. The pilot mentioned that carburetor icing could have caused the loss of engine power during the accident flight. A review of the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart located in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35, Carburetor Icing Prevention, dated June 30, 2009, showed that the conditions in which the airplane was operating were conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29615](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29615-2022-07-30), registration cancelled 2022-07-30, S/N 17700993, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700993 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 2262.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sherman Dennis E - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 21, 2021, 15.9 hours before - Departed: GOK, Guthrie, OK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: WEA, Parker County, runway 17, 2,892 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 29, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 253 in this make and model, 1,560 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KNFW ## 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 20211030022489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211030022489A), Oct 30, 2021: Cessna 177, Hudson Oaks, TX, Substantial damage. This flight departed from guthrie/edmund regional airport (gok) at guthrie, Oklahoma for a return flight to the aircraft home base parker county airport (wea),… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104257. 8.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen22la036%20NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Witness statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237515&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statement%20cen22la036-Rel.pdf - Engine examination (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237799&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20CEN22LA036-Rel.pdf - Throttle cable examination (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15388867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Throttle%20Cable%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf - Carburetor icing probability chart (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 386 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA036%20Carb%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15237819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Case%20Findings-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15319226&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201%20CEN22LA036-Rel.pdf 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.