# NTSB CEN23LA330: Cessna 177, N30632, Cortland, IL, July 27, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 27, 2023, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Cortland, IL · Corn field. - Coordinates: 41.911378, -88.704219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9114&lon=-88.7042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Greater Chicago FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192730 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA330 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192730/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192730 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA330 ## 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. ## 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 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073708), [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 177B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/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 177B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073708), [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. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 177B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073708), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and the passenger were conducting a personal cross-country flight. While on approach to the airport, which was a planned fuel stop, the airplane sustained a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field and the airplane came to rest nose-down. The two occupants were extracted from the airplane by first responders. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported to first responders that the airplane “ran out of fuel.” The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30632](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30632), registered now, S/N 17701371, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 (B) - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (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: 17701371 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 5200.48 - Engines: Lycoming Engines O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 2022, 69.67 hours before - Departed: EVV, Evansville, IN - Destination: DKB, DeKalb, IL - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 109 total, 4 in this make and model, 39 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KDKB, 1 nm away - METAR: KDKB 271715Z AUTO 19003KT 10SM BKN034 30/23 A3000 RMK AO2 T03000234 ## 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 20230727013509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230727013509A), Jul 27, 2023: Cessna 177B, Cortland, IL, Substantial damage. 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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192730. 5.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15978531&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15978753&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� dekalb county sheriff's office (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15979007&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA330%20LEO%20MOR-Rel.pdf - Additional information - federal aviation administration (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 288 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16279398&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20-%20Additional%20Information%20Redacted-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.