# NTSB OAK73DVM31: Cessna 177A, N30364, Watsonville, CA, May 5, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 5, 1973
- Place: Watsonville, CA · WATSONVILLE, CA
- Location: 36.9236° N, 121.7724° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Watsonville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9236&lon=-121.7724&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 14, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190754
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73DVM31
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVM31

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1005   73/5/5  NR.WATSONVILLE,CALIF  CESSNA 177A         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 844
        TIME - 1425                    N30364              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 10 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          VAN NUYS,CALIF              SAN JOSE,CALIF               SALINAS,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FUEL GAUGES INOP. PLT DIDNT REFUEL ENROUTE. LND IN HAY FLD,NOSE GR HIT RUTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30364](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30364-1974-07-22), registration cancelled 1974-07-22, S/N 17701211 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 177A
- Registry model: [Cessna 177A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177a) (registry code 2073706) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730505010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730505010469A), May 5, 1973: Cessna 177, Watsonville, CA, Substantial damage. Fuel gauges inop. Plt didnt refuel enroute. Lnd in hay fld,nose gr hit ruts.

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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