# NTSB LAX96LA029: Cessna 177RG, N4110C, Madera, CA, October 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 29, 1995, 19:25 local (Oct 30, 1995, 03:25 UTC) - Place: Madera, CA - Coordinates: 41.050991, -120.489082 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0510&lon=-120.4891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29325 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29325/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA029 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's improper preflight planning and failure to ensure that adequate fuel was onboard to complete the flight. Darkness was a related factor. ## 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 - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency landing - light condition - night (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in level cruise when the engine surged several times, then quit. The aircraft was headed toward the Madera airport; however, insufficient altitude remained to reach the runway. The pilot made a forced landing in an almond orchard. Records revealed that the pilot flew 5.6 hours during the trip from Modesto to Redlands and then to the accident site. Fueling records disclosed that the pilot purchased 12.6 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline from Redlands Aviation just prior to departure. An examination revealed that the left fuel tank was compromised in the accident, but the right fuel tank was intact. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank, which contained only residual fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel inlet line to the servo. No fuel was found in the distributor manifold. The engine starter drive was engaged into the starter ring. No engine discrepancies were found. ## Factual narrative On October 29, 1995, at 1925 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N4110C, collided with trees during a forced landing near Madera, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Redlands, California, airport about 1600 on the day of the accident as a flight to Modesto, California. The pilot reported that he was in level cruise when the engine surged several times, then quit. The aircraft was pointed toward the Madera airport; however, insufficient altitude remained to make the runway. The pilot made a forced landing in an almond orchard. Review of aircraft use logs maintained for the partnership which owns the aircraft revealed that the pilot flew 5.6 hours during the trip from Modesto to Redlands and then to the accident site. Fueling records at Redlands disclosed that the pilot purchased 12.6 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline from Redlands Aviation just prior to departure. FAA airworthiness inspectors from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft at the accident site. The left fuel tank was compromised in the accident. The right fuel tank was intact. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank, which contained only residual fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel inlet line to the servo. No fuel was found in the distributor manifold. The engine starter drive was engaged into the starter ring. No engine discrepancies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4110C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4110C-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 177RG0588, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177RG - 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: 1770588 - Airframe hours: 1570 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dosung Kim - Registered owner: 177rg Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1995, 40 hours before - Departed: L12, REDLANDS, CA - Destination: MOD, MODESTO, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 25 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAT, 20 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 19951029034889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951029034889A), Oct 29, 1995: Cessna 177RG, Madera, CA, Substantial damage. Engine surged and quit near airport. Unable to make airport. Landed almond orchard. Fuel tanks empty. 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.