# NTSB GAA19CA166: Cessna 177RG, N52047, Land O' Lakes, WI, March 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 9, 2019, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Land O' Lakes, WI - Coordinates: 46.189167, -89.250556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1892&lon=-89.2506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99104/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99104 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA166 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 177RG, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073709), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, on a previous flight, the airplane had been filled with fuel and flown for about 3.8 hours. He added that he attempted to refuel the airplane for the accident flight but that the self-service fuel station at the departure airport "failed to dispense fuel." He stated that he visually checked the tanks and calculated that there would be enough fuel to make the flight. He added that, after departing, during cruise flight about 1,800 ft above ground level, the "engine stopped" and that he then set the "best glide speed" toward a nearby airport. After realizing the airplane would not reach the airport, he executed a 180º turn and landed the airplane on a snow-covered, frozen lake with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that on a previous flight the airplane had been filled and flown for about 3.8 hours, he attempted to refuel the airplane but the self-service fuel station at the departure airport "failed to dispense fuel". The tanks were "checked visually" and after calculations, he determined that there would be enough fuel to make the flight. After departing, during cruise flight, about 1,800 ft above ground level, the "engine stopped." He set the "best glide speed" toward a nearby airport. As he approached the airport, it "became apparent that they would not make the airport." He then executed a 180º turn and landed on a snow covered, frozen lake with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52047](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52047-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 177RG1153, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG (No Series) - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG1153 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3658 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 2018 - Departed: OGM, Ontonagon, MI - Destination: EGV, Eagle River, WI - Airport: LNL, Kings Land O'Lakes - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,720 total, 240 in this make and model, 2,720 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 14 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KLNL, 3 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 20190309001079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190309001079A), Mar 9, 2019: Cessna 177RG, Land O Lakes, WI, Substantial damage. On March 9, 2019 at 1245 central daylight time, a Cessna model 177 aircraft, registered to a partnership and operated by one of the owners, expereinced a loss… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99104. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 630 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.