Cessna 177RG N919DC

Summary

On 17 January 2021 at about 17:20 local time, a Cessna 177RG registered N919DC was involved in an accident near Richmond Hill, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 January 2021 at 17:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Richmond Hill, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

31.9383, -81.3034

Aircraft

Cessna 177RG

Registration

N919DC

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Myers → Saluda

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA105

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a cross-country flight, the pilot reported that while in cruise flight, at an altitude of 5,500 ft the engine “just stopped.” Although the pilot was able to restart the engine; the engine lost power again and the pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted wood debris and was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the engine, ignition, fuel, and vent systems did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The left fuel tank was empty, and the right fuel tank was full. The pilot stated that during the flight, the fuel selector was in the BOTH position. A review of the airplane’s operating handbook revealed that the “fuel selector valve handle should be in the BOTH position for takeoff, landing, and power-on maneuvers that involve prolonged slips or skids.” The handbook also states that if the fuel selector is in the BOTH position during prolonged climb or cruise, an unequal fuel flow from each tank may occur if the airplane is out of trim directionally or if the fuel caps are not sealed properly. Although it was not determined if the fuel imbalance occurred due to improperly sealed fuel caps or an out-of-trim condition, the pilot should have been monitoring the fuel levels during the flight and taken corrective action to avoid fuel starvation. Available evidence indicates the engine lost total power due to fuel starvation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.