# NTSB MIA90FA107: Cessna 177B, N30962, North Captiva, FL, April 19, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 19, 1990, 16:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: North Captiva, FL
- Coordinates: 26.580554, -82.209495 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5806&lon=-82.2095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90FA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32558/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90FA107

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.

## 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
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTD THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB, THEN THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE PLANE WAS PROCEEDING OVER WATER AT ABT 200 TO 300 FT.  AN IMMEDIATE LEFT TURN WAS MADE, FOLLOWED BY A NOSE DOWN DESCENT.  ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER, ENG POWER WAS RESTORED, BUT THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE WATER BEFORE THE DESCENT WAS ARRESTED. PSNL (WHO TRIEDTO RESCUE THE OCCUPANTS, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACDNT) DID NOT NOTICE ANY OIL SLICK OR FUEL ON THE WATER. ONLY SALT WATERWAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS.  AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN SERVICED WITH A FUEL LOAD OF ABOUT 40 GAL ON 4/10/90.  THE ACFT WAS THEN FLOWN ABOUT 3.8 HRS BEFORE THE ACDNT.  THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY FURTHER REFUELING.  FUEL CONSUMPTION FOR THE ENG WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 10 TO 11 GAL/HR AT 65% TO 75% POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30962](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30962-2012-09-25), registration cancelled 2012-09-25, S/N 17701569, built 1970 (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: 17701569
- Airframe hours: 2276
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1F6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Anderson, Kaye F.
- Registered owner: Kaye F. Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 8, 1989, 15 hours before
- Destination: FMY, FORT MYERS, FL
- Airport: North Captiva, runway 9, 2,300 × 100 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,500 total, 256 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 16 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 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 19900419010609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900419010609A), Apr 19, 1990: Cessna 177B, Fort Myers, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Engine quit on steep climbout. Stalled. Engine started in dive,unable to recover airspeed. Water in minimal fuel.

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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