# NTSB ERA11CA419: Cessna 177, N30214, Americus, GA, July 24, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 24, 2011, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Americus, GA - Coordinates: 32.02639, -84.218887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0264&lon=-84.2189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA419 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81213/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81213 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA419 ## Probable cause The CFI and pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), he and the pilot departed the airport for a local, personal flight. While returning to the airport, the engine surged and then lost power. The CFI assumed control of the airplane and selected a suitable landing area for a forced landing. During the landing, after clearing a 50-foot-tall tree line, the right wing and nose wheel impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and firewall. A postaccident examination revealed that both fuel tanks were empty. The CFI reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane and that he did not perform a preflight of the airplane prior to the flight nor did he check the fuel level. ## Factual narrative According to the Certificated Flight instructor (CFI), he and the pilot departed the airport for a local personal flight. While returning to the airport, the engine surged and then shutdown. The pilot stated "we're out of gas" and the CFI assumed control of the airplane. After clearing an approximate 50-foot-high tree line, he felt the landing area was a little smaller than he wished. During the landing sequence, the right wing and nose wheel impacted the ground resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and firewall. The CFI reported there were no preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane and that he did not perform a preflight of the airplane prior to the flight nor did he check the fuel level. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the accident reported that the fuel tanks were empty and that there was no sign of fuel around the accident location. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30214](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30214-2017-09-18), registration cancelled 2017-09-18, S/N 17701125, built 1968 (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: 17701125 - Airframe hours: 3222 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2011 - Departed: ACJ, Americus, GA - Destination: ACJ, Americus, GA - Airport: ACJ, Jimmy Carter Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 14,649 total, 154 in this make and model, 14,632 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review February 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 175 total, 20 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ACJ, 5 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 20110724015809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110724015809A), Jul 24, 2011: Cessna 177, Americus, GA, Destroyed. A newly licensed private pilot ([privacy data omitted]) departed dawson,GA in order to practice touch-and-go s and proceded to Americus airport where she… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81213. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Owner (item 1, .PDF, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Owner-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - CFI (item 2, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20CFI-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record - CFI (item 3, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351528&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20CFI-Master.PDF - Memorandum For Record - FAA (item 4, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Americus Weather (item 5, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351502&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Americus%20Weather-Master.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.