# NTSB MIA02LA015: Cessna 177, N177X, Gainesville, FL, November 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2001, 18:48 local (23:48 UTC) - Place: Gainesville, FL - Coordinates: 29.69, -82.271667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6900&lon=-82.2717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53742 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53742/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA015 ## Probable cause The failure of both pilots to insure the airplane contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and collision with trees during a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - refueling - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the second pilot was flying the airplane from the left seat. Prior to departure from Fayetteville, North Carolina, they had the airplane fueled to the holes in the bottom of the filler collars, which should have given them about 42 gallons of fuel. They did not completely fill the fuel tanks. While approaching to land at their destination, Gainesville, Florida, they elected to fly the instrument landing system approach to give the second pilot practice. The engine lost power about 3 miles from the runway. They turned on the electric fuel boost pump and the engine regained power momentarily. The engine then sputtered and quit., While making a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. Postcrash examination of the airplane and crash site by an FAA Inspector, Fire Department personnel, and Sheriff's Department personnel showed the airplane contained no usable fuel and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane at the crash site or from the airplane in flight. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2001, about 1848 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N177X, registered to Cardinal N S X, Inc., collided with trees while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Gainesville, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot and private-rated second pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Fayetteville, North Carolina, the same day, about 1457. The pilot stated that the second pilot was flying the airplane from the left seat. Prior to departure from Fayetteville, North Carolina, they had the airplane fueled to the holes in the bottom of the filler collars, which should have given them about 42 gallons of fuel. They did not completely fill the fuel tanks. While approaching to land at their destination, Gainesville, Florida, they elected to fly the instrument landing system approach to give the second pilot practice. The engine lost power about 3 miles from the runway. They turned on the electric fuel boost pump and the engine regained power momentarily. The engine then sputtered and quit. While making a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. Postcrash examination of the airplane and crash site by an FAA Inspector, Fire Department personnel, and Sheriff's Department personnel showed the airplane contained no usable fuel and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane at the crash site or from the airplane in flight. (See FAA Inspector Statement). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177X-2005-02-07), registration cancelled 2005-02-07, S/N 17700482, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17700482 - Airframe hours: 4320 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas W. Norton - Registered owner: Cardinal N S X, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2001 - Departed: FAY, Fayetteville, NC - Destination: GNV, Gainesville, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: GNV, Gainesville Regional, runway 28, 7,503 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 2, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,317 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 1,256 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 60; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 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 20011108034449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011108034449A), Nov 8, 2001: Cessna 177, Gainesville, FL, Destroyed. (-23) During a practice instrument approach into Gainesville Regional Airport (gnv), at approximate 3.0 miles on final to runway 28 the engine failed and the… 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.