# NTSB LAX85FA106: Cessna 177B, N34212, El Monte, CA, January 12, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 12, 1985, 14:47 local (22:47 UTC)
- Place: El Monte, CA
- Coordinates: 34.079277, -118.0307 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0793&lon=-118.0307&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24457
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA106
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24457/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA106

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

THE ENGINE LOST PWR & WAS RESTARTED TWICE BEFORE IT QUIT. THE ACFT LANDED IN A DRY RIVERBED TWO MILES SOUTH OF THE ARPT. TWO OUNCES OF FUEL WERE FOUND AT THE SCENE. WINDS WERE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN FORECAST. FOUR TAXI/RUNUP/TAKEOFF/ CLIMBS HAD BEEN MADE SINCE REFUELING AND THE PILOT HAD FLOWN SEVERAL DIVERSIONS. HE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT THAT HE HAD TOPPED THE TANKS AT THE LAST REFUELING & FAILED TO CHECK VISUALLY PRIOR TO THE LAST TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N34212 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701709
- Airframe hours: 17491
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ronald W. Dunn
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1984, 39 hours before
- Departed: L04, HOLTVILLE, CA
- Destination: EMT, EL MONTE, CA
- Airport: EMT, El Monte

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,098 total, 584 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: EMT, 2 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 19850112002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850112002179A), Jan 12, 1985: Cessna 177B, El Monte, CA, Destroyed. Landed on dry riverbed after engine quit due to fuel starvation. Fuel not visually checked, forecast wind wrong.

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.

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