Cessna 177 N29400

Summary

On 4 December 1994 at about 22:15 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N29400 was involved in an accident near Katy, Texas, United States. One person was 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

4 December 1994 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Katy, Texas, United States

Coordinates

29.7503, -95.7400

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N29400

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houston → Waller

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA058

Nobody was injured.

FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL FOR THE FORCED LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED SKY LAKE AIRPORT, WALLER, TEXAS, EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND FLEW TO HOUSTON, LAKESIDE AIRPORT TO PICK UP SOME FUEL ADDITIVE. HE DEPARTED LAKESIDE AIRPORT ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO WALLER, TEXAS, AND HAD LEVELED OFF AT 1,600 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, HE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD, STRUCK A ROADWAY MEDIAN, AND CAME TO REST 237 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TOUCH DOWN POINT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN EITHER FUEL TANK, AND THE FUEL STRAINER CONTAINED LESS THAN A FOURTH OF A CUP OF FUEL. THE FIRE WALL WAS BUCKLED, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS BENT AFT, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS. THE PILOT STATED IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT THAT HE DEPARTED SKY LAKE AIRPORT WITH AT LEAST 21 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND HE COULD NOT 'PREDICT INFLIGHT LOSS OF FUEL.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.