# NTSB NYC96LA147: Cessna 177RG, N8059G, Rockaway, NJ, July 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1996, 06:40 local (10:40 UTC) - Place: Rockaway, NJ - Location: 40.8959° N, 74.5173° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rockaway, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8959&lon=-74.5173&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39215/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol which led to his inadequate preflight of the aircraft and his inadequate inflight decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. ## 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 - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - physical impairment, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,transmission ## Analysis The airplane was en route about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. The pilot turned toward a shopping mall parking lot, and during the descent the airplane struck a power line. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty with corresponding indication of the fuel gages. There was no evidence of fuel siphoning or leakage on the airplane. The pilot reported that he did not check the fuel quantity before the flight, but instead did an estimation of the amount. The pilot's medical certificate had expired and his flight review was past due. A police toxicologist indicated that the pilot had a blood alcohol level of 0.060%. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1996, about 0640 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 177RG, N8059G, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Rockaway, New Jersey. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which originated at Bridgeport, Connecticut, about 0615, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In an interview, the pilot reported that he was cruising about 1500 feet MSL, when the engine lost power. He set up for a forced landing on the south side of the Rockaway Mall parking lot, heading north. He saw a power line in front of him and maneuvered the airplane to strike the line between the poles. The line snapped, however, the speed of the airplane had been reduced and it struck the ground in a nose low attitude. The airplane came to rest in the parking lot with the nose landing gear collapsed, and the firewall buckled. Examination of the airplane found the fuel tanks to be empty, and when battery power was turned on, the fuel gages read empty. Additionally, there was no evidence of fuel stains or siphoning from either fuel tank, or of fuel leakage anywhere on the airplane. When asked if he had checked the fuel quantity prior to departure, the pilot reported that he had estimated the fuel on board. During the interview, the smell of alcohol was noticeable on the pilot's breath. A toxicological examination conducted by the State of New Jersey found an alcohol reading of 0.070 d/gl which translated into a BAC of 0.060 percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8059G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8059G-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 177RG0059, built 1971 (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: 177RG0059 - Airframe hours: 1350 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John D. Losh - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1995, 60 hours before - Departed: BDR, BRIDGEPORT, CT - Destination: N40, PITTSTOWN, NJ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 800 total, 130 in this make and model, 677 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19960712047519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960712047519A), Jul 12, 1996: Cessna 177RG, Rockaway, NJ, Substantial damage. (-16) Aircraft ELT battery had expired. Improper preflight, aircraft ran out of fuel. Mr. Loch whad an expired medical in his possession. Mr. Loch was flying… 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.