# NTSB NYC07LA182: Cessna 177RG, N177RV, Kennesaw, GA, August 1, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2007, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Kennesaw, GA - Coordinates: 34.013053, -84.596946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0131&lon=-84.5969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66354 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66354/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during approach. ## 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 - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - stall - inadvertent - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While on a short cross-country flight, the pilot contacted an air traffic control tower, at an airport that was not his intended destination. The pilot reported that he was approximately 5 miles north of the airport, low on fuel, and requested to land quickly. The air traffic controller instructed the pilot to enter a left base leg for runway 9. The pilot subsequently stated that he was out of fuel, and declared an emergency. The air traffic controller advised the pilot that the airplane was 2 miles north of the airport, and asked if the pilot was in the vicinity of a highway. The pilot replied that he was "stalling," and the airplane impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks, and no evidence of fuel throughout the fuel system. In addition, there was no evidence of a fuel leak. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2007, about 1720 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N177RV, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Kennesaw, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Athens Airport (AHN), Athens, Georgia, about 1630; destined for Cartersville Airport (VPC), Cartersville, Georgia. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator was flying near the accident site, and monitoring the air traffic control tower (ATCT) frequency at Cobb County Airport (RYY), Atlanta, Georgia. The Safety Board investigator report that at approximately 1710, the accident pilot contacted the RYY ATCT, and stated that he was approximately 5 miles north of RYY, low on fuel, and requested to land quickly. The air traffic controller instructed the pilot to enter a left base leg for runway 9. The pilot subsequently stated that he was out of fuel, and declared an emergency. The air traffic controller advised the pilot that the airplane was 2 miles north of RYY, and asked if the pilot was in the vicinity of Cobb Parkway. The pilot replied that he was "stalling," and no further transmissions were received from the accident airplane. The pilot suffered critical injuries, and could not recall the accident. The pilot reported a total flight experience of 237.5 hours; of which, 13.4 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The airplane impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks, and no evidence of fuel throughout the fuel system. In addition, the FAA inspector did not observe any evidence of a fuel leak. The reported weather at RYY, at 1724, was: wind from 150 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 6,000 feet; broken ceiling at 7,500 feet; temperature 32 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 18 degrees C; altimeter 29.95 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N177RV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177RV-2007-09-21), registration cancelled 2007-09-21, S/N 177RG1307, built 1978 (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: 177RG1307 - Airframe hours: 3978.2 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric P Ward - Registered owner: Hilltop Ventures Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007 - Departed: AHN, Athens, GA - Destination: VPC, Cartersville, GA - Airport: RYY, Cobb County Airport, runway 9, 6,305 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 238 total, 13 in this make and model, 155 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: RYY, 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 20070801017119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070801017119A), Aug 1, 2007: Cessna 177RG, Kennesaw, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft crashed two miles north west of cobb county-mccollum field in a wooded area behind inhabited residence located at [privacy data omitted] 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.