# NTSB IAD96LA095: Cessna 177, N3197T, Versailles, OH, June 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 1996, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Versailles, OH - Coordinates: 40.219364, -84.479446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2194&lon=-84.4794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28065 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28065/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA095 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel consumption calculations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis Following a touch and go landing at about 200 feet agl, the engine lost power, the FAA check pilot took the controls and landed the airplane on the remaining runway but ran off the end causing substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the wreckage found the fuel tanks intact and the fuel caps secure. However, there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks, sumps, or fuel lines from the tanks to the emergency shut off, nor was their any evidence of a fuel spill reported by the State Police or the FAA. A subsequent interview with the pilot by the FAA found that he believed he had flown about 3.5 hours since last fueling up. However, a review of the pilot's log books found that he had flown 4.2 hours. The FAA stated that when the pilot was confronted with this information he realized that he had run out of fuel. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 14, 1996, at about 0945 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3197T, lost engine power during the initial climb out after a touch and go landing at the Darke County Airport, Versailles, Ohio. The airplane descended back onto runway 27, departed the end of the runway and impacted a fence causing substantial damage. The pilot and the certified flight instructor sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Brookville Airpark, Ohio, at about 0830. The pilot stated that he had purchased the aircraft about one year ago and needed five hours of dual instruction for insurance purposes because he had not flown in about 10 years. He stated that he was performing his Bi-Annual flight review with a licensed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Instructor when the accident happened. He stated that he had performed a preflight inspection and found the fuel tanks to be about half full using a paint stir stick as a measuring device. He said that he and his instructor departed Brookville Airpark, Ohio at about 0830 and flew direct to Darke County Airport and did about four full stop landings. On the last takeoff the pilot stated that he decided to do one touch and go before returning to Brookville Airpark. Following the touch and go the airplane climbed to about 150 to 200 feet above ground level (agl) and the engine power failed. The flight instructor took the controls and landed on the remaining runway with about 50 feet to go. The aircraft ran off the end of the runway and over a ditch, went through a fence and stopped on a road which parallels runway 27. WRECKAGE EXAMINATION/DOCUMENTATION Damage to the aircraft consisted of a collapsed nose gear, and a collapsed right main gear. The left main gear was bent, an engine mount was broken, the fire wall was torn and the fuselage on the pilots side and the belly of the fuselage on the copilots side wrinkled. On June 17, 1996, FAA Inspectors examined the aircraft and found both fuel tanks intact and the fuel caps secure. However, there was no fuel found in the fuel tanks, sumps, or fuel lines from the tanks to the emergency shut off. In addition, State Police also stated that they found no evidence of a fuel spill or fuel in the fuel tanks at the time of their examination. The pilot was contacted by the FAA and asked when he last fueled the aircraft. The pilot stated that he had flown 3.5 hours since he last fueled up. FAA Inspectors reviewed the pilots log book and found that he had flown 4.2 hours. The FAA Inspector stated to the pilot that pattern work required more fuel then cruise flight and that the aircraft was rated at 4.6 hours in cruise flight. When the pilot was confronted with these facts by the FAA, the FAA stated that the pilot then realized that he had run out of fuel. (See attachment 1, for FAA Accident Report.) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3197T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3197T), registered now, S/N 17700497, 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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700497 - Engines: Lycoming O360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Theodore Lewis Scott - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1995, 1,085 hours before - Departed: VES - Airport: VES, Darke County, runway 27, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 6 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F ## 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 19960614013959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960614013959A), Jun 14, 1996: Cessna 177, Versailles, OH, Substantial damage. Lost power on liftoff after touch and go. Landed. Ran off end. Hit fence. Fuel tanks were empty. (-23) Cessna N3197T departed brookville airpark (I62) to… 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.