# NTSB WPR11LA254: Cessna 177, N2301Y, Santa Clarita, CA, June 9, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 2011, 17:30 local (Jun 9, 2011, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Clarita, CA
- Coordinates: 34.420555, -118.518058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4206&lon=-118.5181&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80713/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80713
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA254

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight verification of the fuel quantity and his inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [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)

## 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)
- [Enroute-descent: 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)

## Analysis

Prior to the flight, the pilot visually checked the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks and the left fuel tank fuel quantity was within one inch from the filler neck, and the right fuel tank appeared to be half full. As the flight neared the area of the accident site, both the pilot and passenger observed the right fuel gauge indicate zero, followed by the left. While attempting to maneuver around clouds to descend to an airport the pilot saw beneath the clouds, the engine started to sputter. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the both position to the left fuel tank and the engine stopped almost immediately. He then switched to the right fuel tank, but the engine did not restart. The pilot initiated a forced landing onto a road, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's wings and horizontal stabilizer. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed no fuel in either fuel tank and about 1/2 cup of fuel was drained from the fuel strainer. The FAA inspector also observed a placard on the instrument panel which stated "... [the] Tuned Exhaust System installed on this aircraft may cause the aircraft to burn more fuel at certain power settings. It is the Pilot's responsibility to determine what, if any, change in fuel flow exists and to plan accordingly."

## Factual narrative

On June 8, 2011, about 1730 pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177, 2301Y, owned and operated by Shawnee Partners LLC, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing onto a road in Santa Clarita, California. The commercial pilot and one pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual Meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the San Luis County Regional airport, San Luis Obispo (SBP), California and was destined for Van Nuys (VNY), California under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot reported that prior to the flight, he visually checked the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks; the left fuel tank fuel quantity was within one inch from the filler neck, and the right fuel tank appeared to be half full. Over the area of the accident site, the pilot and passenger observed the right and left fuel gauges indicate zero. They passed over an airport that they could see beneath the cloud layer. While maneuvering around the clouds and the moisture in the area, the pilot reduced power to initiate a descent. The pilot reduced power a second time, and about three seconds later, the engine started to sputter. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the both position to the left fuel tank and the engine stopped almost immediately; he then switched to the right fuel tank, but the engine did not restart. The pilot initiated a forced landing onto a road. During landing, the wings struck road signs and the left horizontal stabilizer struck the ground, substantially damaging the airplane. During an on-scene examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, no fuel was observed in either fuel tank and about 1/2 cup of fuel was drained from the fuel strainer. The FAA Inspector further observed that the airplane contained a Tuned Exhaust System which was installed on November 19, 2010. A placard located on the airplane's instrument panel stated "The Power Flow Systems, Inc. Tuned Exhaust System installed on this aircraft may cause the aircraft to burn more fuel at certain power settings. It is the Pilot's responsibility to determine what, if any, change in fuel flow exists and to plan accordingly." At the time of the accident, the nearest weather reporting station located about 8 nautical miles to the south of the accident site reported overcast skies at 3,100 feet, a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius (C) and a dewpoint of 12 degrees C. The temperature and dewpoint were plotted on the Carburetor Icing Probably Chart; there was a moderate risk of icing at cruise power or serious risk of icing at glide power.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2301Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2301Y-2012-08-13), registration cancelled 2012-08-13, S/N 17700101, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17700101
- Airframe hours: 3264
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 9, 2011
- Departed: SBP, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Destination: VNY, Van Nuys, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 14, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 871 total, 4 in this make and model, 780 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: VNY, 8 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 20110608010019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110608010019A), Jun 8, 2011: Cessna 177, Santa Clarita, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was landed off-airport due to fuel exhaustion. Substantial damage during off-airport landing.

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80713. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351520&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352149&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- Engine Logbook Extracts (item 4, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351625&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Extracts-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Carburetor Icing Probability Chart (item 6, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Probability%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Fuel Burn Placard - Complements of the FAA (item 7, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Fuel%20Burn%20Placard%20-%20Complements%20of%20the%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Location of Accident - Complements of Google Earth (item 8, .PDF, 163 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Location%20of%20Accident%20-%20Complements%20of%20Google%20Earth-Master.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.

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