Cessna 177B N49AF

Summary

On 27 February 2008 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna 177B registered N49AF was involved in an accident near Quincy, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 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

27 February 2008 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Quincy, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Quincy Municipal Airport (2J9)

Coordinates

30.5978, -84.5572

Aircraft

Cessna 177B

Registration

N49AF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tallahassee → Quincy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08CA113

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the 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 stated that he was attempting a long cross-country flight, with a planned fuel stop at an airport about halfway to his intended destination. While en route to the planned fuel stop, the airplane consumed more fuel than planned due to greater than forecasted headwinds. The pilot also elected to fly at a lower than planned altitude, in order to avoid turbulence. Although the flight was consuming more fuel than planned, the pilot believed that an adequate amount of fuel remained to fly to the planned fuel stop and beyond. After landing uneventfully for the planned fuel stop, the pilot was informed that the airport fixed base operator had run out of fuel. The pilot then elected to depart, and refuel the airplane at an airport about 10 miles away. While on final approach to that airport, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed that approximately 3.5 total gallons of aviation fuel was recovered from the airplane's four fuel tanks. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.