Cessna 177RG N52120

Summary

On 16 July 1997 at about 16:45 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N52120 was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. 3 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

16 July 1997 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

McGhee Tyson (TYS)

Coordinates

36.1003, -87.6304

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N52120

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Farmington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL97LA104

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's inadequate preflight by failing to ensure the oil filler cap was secured during his preflight inspection, and loss of engine oil (oil exhaustion), which resulted in subsequent engine failure. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a successful forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he did a preflight inspection and found no discrepancies. During his takeoff climb, the engine started running rough, and subsequently, it stopped running. The pilot initiated an emergency landing into a field, and the airplane encountered rough terrain, which resulted in substantial to the airplane. Visual examination of the airplane revealed that the oil dipstick was loose. Isolated areas of oil wetness were found in the vicinity of the #2 cylinder base and around the right rear accessory section. Oil was also found on the lower right hand windshield, on the nose landing gear doors, and down 50% of the belly of the fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.