CHI03LA226

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during a forced landing. The pilot reported that after fueling the airplane he and a passenger departed for a cross-country flight. While en route the pilot noticed that his fuel gauges were indicating a lower amount of fuel than he had anticipated. The pilot stated that the engine lost power during cruise flight. He was able to restart the engine after switching to the other fuel tank, but only for a short time. The pilot notified the approach controller but was unable to make it to a nearby airport. The pilot performed a forced landing on a local highway. The airplane struck tree branches on the landing roll. Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated that he found out that "there was little fuel if any left in the aircraft." A test run of the accident aircraft's engine revealed no anomalies.

On July 26, 2003, about 1901 central daylight time, a Cessna 177, Cardinal, N2336Y, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a tree and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power near Murdock, Nebraska. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Marshall County Airport, near Lacon, Illinois, at 1515, and was enroute to Lincoln Municipal Airport, near Lincoln, Nebraska, at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot's written statement:

We departed Marshall Co. (Ill) for Nebraska [at] 1515 central time. We flew first using the

right tank selector for exactly 1 [hour] switched to the left tank and flew for 2 hours then

switched to the right tank. An increase in oil temperature near the red line was noted with

normal indication on EGT and CHT gauges. Cabin temp was steamy. I was told that the

ground temp was 101 [degrees Fahrenheit]. After 3 [hours] and 15[minutes] a decision

was made to land at Lincoln Municipal with fuel gauges indicating lower than expected.

( [left side] < 1/4 Tank [right side] approx 1/4) Omaha and Lincoln approach control

handled the flight and we were told to descend at pilot's discretion. I descended to 3000

[feet] MSL over the next 10 minutes and was given a landing instruction left base for

runway 17L. I proceeded to a position approximately 17 NM from the airport when the

engine quit. I switched tanks to the left side [and] turned on the fuel pump [electric]. The

engine seemed to start again and I continued, notifying Lincoln approach of a possible

problem. With less than 5 minutes to landing the engine quit completely. I tried switching

tanks to both, carb heat on, primer in etc. did a mag check and nothing worked. Decision

was made to land west on a side dirt road. I set-up for that but noticed high voltage wires

on [right hand side] and crossing the road. An alternate [north and south] paved

road was chosen [and] I turned to it. There were cars traveling south on that road. I moved

to the [right hand side] of the road to avoid landing on top of a blue car. When it

stopped I turned back and landed on that road. The [aircraft's] right wing hit branches

and the [aircraft] spin around to a stop.

Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated that he found out that "there was little fuel if any left in the aircraft."

A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector observed a test run of the accident aircraft's engine. The engine was able to start and run.