Cessna 177B N177LS

Summary

On 31 May 2025 at about 20:33 local time, a Cessna 177B registered N177LS was involved in an accident near Columbus, Mississippi, United States. 4 people were on board and one 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

31 May 2025 at 20:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Columbus-Lowndes County (UBS)

Coordinates

33.4303, -88.3233

Aircraft

Cessna 177B

Registration

N177LS

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

Orlando → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA193

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and improper in-flight decision-making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent landing on rough terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported about 4 hours after departure while on approach to the destination airport, the engine lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks contained no usable fuel. After the accident, the pilot stated that he did not top off the fuel tanks at his departure airport but only “stuck” the tanks to verify the fuel level.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.