Cessna 177RG N8059G

Summary

On 12 July 1996 at about 10:40 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N8059G was involved in an accident near Rockaway, New Jersey, United States. 2 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

12 July 1996 at 10:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Rockaway, New Jersey, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N8059G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bridgeport → Pittstown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA147

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol which led to his inadequate preflight of the aircraft and his inadequate inflight decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was en route about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. The pilot turned toward a shopping mall parking lot, and during the descent the airplane struck a power line. The airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty with corresponding indication of the fuel gages. There was no evidence of fuel siphoning or leakage on the airplane. The pilot reported that he did not check the fuel quantity before the flight, but instead did an estimation of the amount. The pilot's medical certificate had expired and his flight review was past due. A police toxicologist indicated that the pilot had a blood alcohol level of 0.060%.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.