# NTSB FTW03LA110: Cessna 177A, N30461, England, AR, March 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 12, 2003, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: England, AR - Coordinates: 34.536388, -91.982498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5364&lon=-91.9825&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56619/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane while searching for a private grass airstrip, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, emergency landing - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The flight originated with each of the wing fuel tanks 3/4 full of fuel. When the flight neared the destination the pilot was unable to locate the airstrip, circled the area for one hour, ran low on fuel, and executed a precautionary landing to a farm field. The pilot obtained 5 gallons of fuel, was provided directions to the destination airstrip, and departed. The pilot stated that he again was unable to locate the airstrip, and approximately 35 minutes later the engine lost complete power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane contacted trees and a ditch. ## Factual narrative On March 12, 2003, at 1600 central standard time, a Cessna 177A single-engine airplane, N30461, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion near England, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight originated from the Hope Municipal Airport (M18), Hope, Arkansas, at 1200 and was destined for a private grass airstrip near Sherrill, Arkansas. According to the pilot, who had owned the airplane for one week, when he departed M18 both wing fuel tanks were each 3/4 full of fuel. When the flight neared Sherrill he was unable to locate the airstrip, circled the area for one hour, ran low on fuel, and executed a precautionary landing to a farm field. The pilot obtained 5 gallons of fuel, was provided directions to the destination airstrip, and departed. The pilot stated that he again was unable to locate the airstrip, and approximately 35 minutes later the engine lost complete power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane contacted trees and a ditch. According to an FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the left wing attaching points were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30461](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30461-2017-03-10), registration cancelled 2017-03-10, S/N 17701269, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177A - Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17701269 - Airframe hours: 1990 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vernon Lee Murphy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: M18, Hope, AR - Destination: NONE, Sherrill, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 52; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 10 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 20030312004729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030312004729A), Mar 12, 2003: Cessna 177A, England, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that he was lost and ran out of fuel. 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.