- Date
- October 31, 1982, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hardin, MT
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2824XCessna 177
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19821031055919A
- Case key
- 70962
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft had been fully serviced with fuel (48 gal usable supply) and had been flown 1.8 hrs prior to this flight. Reportedly, the pilot had relied on his fuel log and fuel gauges, and did not visually check the fuel quantity during the preflight. While on a gradual descent toward the airport, the engine lost power and would not restart. A crash landing was made in plowed field about 1/2 mi from the airport. No fuel was found in the fuel tanks and lines. The aircraft had flown .6 hrs on this flight or 2.4 hrs since it was refueled. At 75% power, about 24 gal would have been consumed. Red fuel stains were found on the inlet fuel line and on the fire wall below the line. With the cowling on, the pilot would not have been able to observe the stains. The fuel line (pn S1236-8-0280) was removed and pressure checked at 7 PSI. During the check, a small stream of fuel about 1/16 inch in diameter was noted. Also, fuel thefts had been reported at the airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2824X
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 177-00224
- Airframe hours
- 1,405
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Douglas Freeman
- Registered owner
- Douglas Freeman
- Departed
- Hardin, MT
- Destination
- Hardin, MT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 230 total · 230 in this make and model · 200 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 122 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.