# NTSB NYC96LA038: Cessna 177, N29676, South Brunswick, NJ, November 6, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 6, 1995, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place: South Brunswick, NJ
- Location: 40.3840° N, 74.5256° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Township of South Brunswick, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3840&lon=-74.5256&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39132
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39132/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA038

## Probable cause

loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

During cruise flight at 2000 feet, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he applied carburetor heat, but nothing happened. He said he pumped the throttle to get the engine to run, but it wasn't running properly. He also reported that during a forced landing, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch, the nose gear collapsed, and the propeller and left wing struck the ground. No fuel was found in the fuel lines and gascolator, and only a residual amount of fuel was found in the fuel tanks; however, a fuel line had ruptured, and the amount of fuel that had drained from the fuel system was not verified.

## Factual narrative

On November 6, 1995, about 1245 eastern standard time, a Cessna 177, N29676, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near South Brunswick, New Jersey.  The private pilot and one passenger were not injured and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The personal flight departed Old Bridge, New Jersey, destined for Blairstown, New Jersey, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:

...I reached cruise altitude of 2000 feet.  About that      time the engine began to run roughly.  The engine      stopped running and I landed in an open field.  The      field was soft....The incline down caused the nosewheel      to collapse.  Then the propeller struck the ground      along with the left wingtip.  At impact a fuel line had      ruptured which caused most of my fuel to leak into the      ground.

Postaccident examination by the FAA Inspector revealed no discrepancies with the airframe or engine.  Additionally, there was no fuel in the fuel lines, and the fuel gascolator was dry.  There was a residual amount of fuel found in the fuel tanks.

Additionally, the owner of the property stated that there was approximately one gallon of residual fuel on the ground, therefore no environmental protection agency clean up was conducted.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N29676](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29676-1996-02-22), registration cancelled 1996-02-22, S/N 17701020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177
- Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17701020
- Airframe hours: 1752
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David J. Allen
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 1995, 24 hours before
- Departed: 3N6, OLDBRIDGE, NJ
- Destination: 1N7, BLAIRSTOWN, NJ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 510 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 19951106048559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951106048559A), Nov 6, 1995: Cessna 177, South Brunswick, NJ, Destroyed. (-16) Aircraft was inspected for basic functions I.e. engine electrical, fuel supply, oil, air intake and security of engine components. Found all 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.

---
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.