Cessna 177RG N52047

Summary

On 9 March 2019 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N52047 was involved in an accident near Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, 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

9 March 2019 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Kings Land O'lakes (LNL)

Coordinates

46.1892, -89.2506

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N52047

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ontonagon → Eagle River

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA166

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's improper fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of engine power. 

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, on a previous flight, the airplane had been filled with fuel and flown for about 3.8 hours. He added that he attempted to refuel the airplane for the accident flight but that the self-service fuel station at the departure airport "failed to dispense fuel." He stated that he visually checked the tanks and calculated that there would be enough fuel to make the flight. He added that, after departing, during cruise flight about 1,800 ft above ground level, the "engine stopped" and that he then set the "best glide speed" toward a nearby airport. After realizing the airplane would not reach the airport, he executed a 180º turn and landed the airplane on a snow-covered, frozen lake with the landing gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.