# NTSB CHI01LA283: Cessna 177RG, N27JS, Sikeston, MO, August 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2001, 21:06 local (Aug 16, 2001, 02:06 UTC) - Place: Sikeston, MO - Coordinates: 36.879066, -89.579162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8791&lon=-89.5792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 53062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53062/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA283 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during the initial climb due to fuel contamination, water. A factor relating to the accident was the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - ignition system,ignition lead - arcing - ignition system,ignition harness - chafed - ignition system,ignition harness - burned - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said they were on initial climb from Sikeston Airport and were approximately 500 feet when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot said he turned the airplane around toward the airport but determined he could not make it back. The pilot said he landed the airplane in a pasture. The airplane's fuel selector had the left wing tank selected. The left and right wing tanks showed fuel. Fuel drained from the left tank had water present. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed that three of the lead wires coming from the dual magneto were chaffed and burnt. There were arcing marks on three of the connector lead covers going to three of the top spark plugs. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2001, at 2106 central daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N27JS, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and impacted into a field 1/2 mile north of the Sikeston Airport (SIK), Sikeston, Missouri, during a forced landing. The airplane was on initial climb after takeoff from SIK when it experienced a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger on board reported no injuries. The cross country flight was originating at the time of the accident. In his written statement, the pilot said they were climbing following takeoff from Sikeston Airport and were approximately 500 feet when the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot said he turned the airplane around toward the departure airport, but determined he could not make it back. The pilot said he landed the airplane in a pasture. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was resting in a field 65 yards from a clutch of small trees. The trees showed broken trunks and branches. The airplane was resting upright and canted 45 degrees to the right. The fuselage was bent upward aft of the airplane's cabin. The right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent upward. The vertical and horizontal stabilizers showed skin wrinkles. The outboard right wing, wing tip and right aileron were bent upward. The right main landing gear was broken aft. The lower portion of the firewall was bent aft. The airplane's propeller showed no damage The airplane's fuel selector had the left wing tank selected. The left and right wing tanks showed fuel. Fuel drained from the left tank had water present. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed that three of the wires coming from the back of the dual magneto were chafed and burnt. There were arcing marks on the connector lead covers going to three of the top spark plugs. No other anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N27JS), registered now, S/N 177RG0629, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 629 - Airframe hours: 1931 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Martin D. Cole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 2001 - Departed: SIK, SIKESTON, MO - Destination: HFY, GREENWOOD, IN - Airport: SIK, Sikeston Airport, runway 02, 5,502 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 4, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 9,340 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 9,140 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: CGI, 19 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 20010815024649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010815024649A), Aug 15, 2001: Cessna 177RG, Sikeston, MO, No damage. (-23) Pilot [privacy data omitted] departed Sikeston memorial municipal (sik) rwy 2 with approximately 3 hours of fuel headed to cape girardeau (cgi), for a… 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.