Cessna 177 N177X

Summary

On 8 November 2001 at about 23:48 local time, a Cessna 177 registered N177X, operated by Thomas W. Norton, was involved in an accident near Gainesville, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 November 2001 at 23:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Gainesville Regional (GNV)

Coordinates

29.6900, -82.2717

Aircraft

Cessna 177

Registration

N177X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas W. Norton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fayetteville → Gainesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA02LA015

2 people had minor injuries.

The failure of both pilots to insure the airplane contained adequate fuel to complete the flight resulting in loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and collision with trees during a 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 the second pilot was flying the airplane from the left seat. Prior to departure from Fayetteville, North Carolina, they had the airplane fueled to the holes in the bottom of the filler collars, which should have given them about 42 gallons of fuel. They did not completely fill the fuel tanks. While approaching to land at their destination, Gainesville, Florida, they elected to fly the instrument landing system approach to give the second pilot practice. The engine lost power about 3 miles from the runway. They turned on the electric fuel boost pump and the engine regained power momentarily. The engine then sputtered and quit., While making a forced landing, the airplane collided with trees. Postcrash examination of the airplane and crash site by an FAA Inspector, Fire Department personnel, and Sheriff's Department personnel showed the airplane contained no usable fuel and that there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane at the crash site or from the airplane in flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.