# NTSB CHI03LA226: Cessna 177, N2336Y, Murdock, NE, July 27, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 2003, 19:01 local (Jul 27, 2003, 00:01 UTC) - Place: Murdock, NE - Coordinates: 40.850833, -96.759162 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8508&lon=-96.7592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57575/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA226 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the trees and unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2336Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2336Y-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 17700136, built 1967 (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: 17700136 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Henry R. Rey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2003, 12.7 hours before - Departed: C75, MARSHALLTOWN, IA - Destination: LNK, LINCOLN, NE - Airport: LNK, Lincoln Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 21, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 4,059 total, 235 in this make and model, 3,979 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 13 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: LNK, 17 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 20030726021739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030726021739A), Jul 26, 2003: Cessna 177, Murdock, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) N2336Y enroute from montgomery county airport, lacon, IL, to lincoln, NE, lost engine power and landed on hwy 63, approximately 17 miles east of lincoln,… ## Other investigations on N2336Y (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD76DID38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD76DID38), Aug 13, 1976: Cessna 177 (N2336Y), Roanoke, VA, substantial damage 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.