Cessna 177B N34980

Summary

On 28 September 1991 at about 00:55 local time, a Cessna 177B registered N34980, operated by Gaylin M. Allen, was involved in an accident near Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 September 1991 at 00:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Charles Regional (LCH)

Coordinates

30.2091, -93.2000

Aircraft

Cessna 177B

Registration

N34980

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gaylin M. Allen

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

FTW91LA167

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A COMPLETE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

A PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS SON DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR A SHORT, SCENIC, LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REPORTED ON MODIFIED RIGHT BASE TO RUNWAY 33 FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. THE ENGINE FAILED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GUIDE WIRE WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO FLY BENEATH AND AVOID POWER LINES, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. BOTH FUEL CELLS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOUR HOURS AND FIFTY FOUR MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME HAD ELAPSED SINCE HE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SERVICED WITH FUEL. HE HAD ESTIMATED HE HAD TWO HOURS OF FUEL REMAINING PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE HOUR LONG FLIGHT. HE STATED HE DID NOT USUALLY CHECK HIS FUEL SUPPLY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.