# NTSB WPR10LA345: Cessna 177, N3295T, Chino, CA, July 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 2010, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Chino, CA - Coordinates: 33.966667, -117.633331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9667&lon=-117.6333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA345 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA345 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate fuel planning which resulted in a loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 177, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 177, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073704), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he prepared a flight plan the night before his departure which included three legs, with a fuel stop planned after the second leg. On the day of the accident, the pilot performed a preflight inspection on the airplane and determined that he had sufficient fuel to make the planned 2-hour trip with the appropriate fuel reserve. He flew to the first planned airport, and then amended his flight plan and flew to a different airport, not originally on his flight plan. He did not preflight or consider how this leg would affect his fuel calculations. After the second stop, he did an abbreviated preflight, which consisted of visually checking the fuel and oil levels. He looked into the fuel tanks, but did not physically measure the amount of fuel. He estimated the amount of fuel on board, but did not recognize that the fuel level was too low to make the flight. He then departed for the planned fuel stop airport. The airplane was over a housing tract a few miles northwest of the destination airport when the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine lost power. The pilot made a forced landing on a golf course, but could not stop the airplane before it collided with ground obstacles. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 2010, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3295T, collided with objects during an off airport forced landing near Chino, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Kernville, California, about 1245, en route to Corona, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that he prepared a flight plan the night before his departure. He was going to depart Brackett Field, La Verne, California, and meet a friend at Tehachapi, California. He would then fly to Corona to fuel the airplane prior to returning to Brackett. The pilot conducted a preflight, and determined that the airplane had sufficient fuel to make the planned 2-hour trip and have appropriate reserves. He flew to Tehachapi, and secured the airplane. After discovering that his friend was at Kern Valley Airport, Kernville, the pilot departed to that location. He did not preflight or consider how this leg would affect his fuel calculations. After completing his visit at Kernville, the pilot did an abbreviated preflight, which consisted of visually checking the fuel and oil levels. He looked into the tanks, but did not physically measure the amount of fuel. He estimated the amount of fuel on board, and stated that he did not recognize that his fuel level was too low to make the flight. He departed for Corona. The pilot stated that the airplane was over a housing tract in Chino Hills, California, which was a few miles northwest of Corona, when the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine lost power. He made a forced landing on a golf course, but could not stop the airplane before it collided with ground obstacles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3295T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3295T-2013-06-24), registration cancelled 2013-06-24, S/N 17700595, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 177 - Registry model: [Cessna 177](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177) (registry code 2073704) (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: 17700595 - Airframe hours: 1964 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Phil Samuelian - Registered owner: Phil Samuelian - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 20, 2010 - Departed: L05, Kernville, CA - Destination: AJO, Corona, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 29, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 449 total, 364 in this make and model, 318 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KCNO ## 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 20100711040099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100711040099A), Jul 11, 2010: Cessna 177, Chino Hills, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot in command departed kpoc VFR to ktsp then proceeded VFR to L05. Pilot states he visually checked his fuel tanks prior to departing both kpoc and L05.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76597. 577 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 577 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333503&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.