# NTSB LAX95LA206: Cessna 177B, N16081, Lebec, CA, June 11, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 1995, 18:25 local (Jun 11, 1995, 01:25 UTC) - Place: Lebec, CA - Coordinates: 34.860858, -118.869117 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8609&lon=-118.8691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29113 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29113/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA206 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane's fuel sysytem and his failure to maintain an adequate supply of fuel to complete the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL POWER LOSS WHILE AT 8,500 FT MSL. HE INITIATED A GLIDE TOWARD AN AIRPORT, BUT LANDED WITH NO FLAPS IN A ROUGH FIELD ABOUT 1 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. BEFORE DEPARTURE HE MADE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FUEL QUANTITY AND OBSERVED THE FUEL LEVEL TO BE LEVEL WITH SOME DOTTED MARKINGS. HE THOUGHT THE DOTS REPRESENTED FULL FUEL. THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL STATES THE FUEL CAPACITY TO THE 'LINE OF HOLES' INSIDE THE FILLER NECK IS 22 GALLONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH 50-GALLON STANDARD RANGE TANKS, WITH 49 GALLONS OF USABLE FUEL. THE OPERATOR SAID THAT NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN EITHER TANK WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 1.6 HOURS BEFORE BEING DISPATCHED TO THE PILOT. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE PILOT DEPARTED BAKERSFIELD WITH 33 GALLONS OF FUEL ONBOARD. THE HOBBS METER SHOWED THE PILOT HAD FLOWN 2.9 HOURS. THE OPERATOR STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT BURNED BETWEEN 10 AND 12 GPH. NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE AT AVALON AIRPORT ON CATALINA ISLAND. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 1995, at 1825 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N16081, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Lebec, California. The aircraft was operated by Inclined To Fly and was rented by the pilot. The flight departed on the return leg of a cross-country to Catalina Island at 1715. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed for the operation. The certificated private pilot and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport, Bakersfield, California, at 1329 on the day of the accident. The pilot reported that while en route back to Bakersfield at an altitude of 8,500 feet msl he experienced a total power loss. He initiated a glide toward Quail Lake airport, but landed with no flaps in a rough field, about 1 mile short of the runway. The pilot stated that on the day of the accident he performed a preflight inspection using a preflight check list. He said he made a visual inspection of the fuel quantity and observed the fuel level to be level with "some dotted markings on each wing." He stated that he was under the impression that the "dots represented a full fuel mark." According to the manufacturer's operators manual, the fuel capacity to the "line of holes" inside the filler neck is 22 gallons. The operator, who recovered the aircraft at the scene, reported that there was no fuel in either main tank. He stated that the last fuel purchased was 23 gallons on June 5, 1995, from Mercury Aviation at Meadows Field. He also reported that the aircraft had been flown 1.6 hours on June 8, 1995, before being dispatched to the pilot on the day of the accident. He estimated that the pilot departed Bakersfield with 33 gallons of fuel onboard, and had flown 2.9 hours before the accident according to the Hobbs meter. He stated that the accident aircraft burned between 10 and 12 gph. The aircraft was equipped with standard range tanks, which have a total fuel capacity of 50 gallons, with 49 gallons usable. No fuel was available at Avalon airport on Catalina Island. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16081](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16081-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N 17702483, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177B - Registry model: [Cessna 177B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177b) (registry code 2073708) (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: 17702483 - Airframe hours: 2058 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Steve Cline, doing business as Inclined To Fly - Registered owner: Steven E. Clinkenbeard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 5, 1995, 73 hours before - Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA - Destination: BFL, BAKERSFIELD, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 294 total, 14 in this make and model, 167 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 14 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WJF, 30 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 19950610014499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950610014499A), Jun 10, 1995: Cessna 177B, Lebec, CA, Substantial damage. Misread visual fuel prior departure. Ran out of fuel on return trip. Landed a mile short of runway. 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.