LAKE CHARLES, LA, USA
N34980
CESSNA 177B
A PRIVATE PILOT AND HIS SON DEPARTED THE AIRPORT FOR A SHORT, SCENIC, LOCAL NIGHT FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REPORTED ON MODIFIED RIGHT BASE TO RUNWAY 33 FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. THE ENGINE FAILED AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A GUIDE WIRE WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO FLY BENEATH AND AVOID POWER LINES, AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. BOTH FUEL CELLS WERE FOUND TO BE EMPTY. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOUR HOURS AND FIFTY FOUR MINUTES OF FLIGHT TIME HAD ELAPSED SINCE HE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SERVICED WITH FUEL. HE HAD ESTIMATED HE HAD TWO HOURS OF FUEL REMAINING PRIOR TO DEPARTING ON THE HOUR LONG FLIGHT. HE STATED HE DID NOT USUALLY CHECK HIS FUEL SUPPLY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM A COMPLETE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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