On November 22, 1985, a Cessna 177 (registration N3459T) was involved in an aviation accident near Stockton, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot, a CFI acting as safety pilot, and a passenger departed after a preflight inspection. During a practice NDB approach, fuel gauges indicated empty and all engine power was lost, leading to a forced landing in a vineyard. The left fuel cap was missing at the site.
Flight and Preflight
The pilot in command (PIC) conducted a preflight inspection of the aircraft before departing with a certified flight instructor (CFI), who was acting as safety pilot, and another passenger. The CFI reportedly held an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and had logged over 19,000 flight hours.
The Incident
During a practice nondirectional beacon (NDB) approach, the aircraft's fuel gauges registered 'empty' and all engine power was lost. The PIC reported no mechanical failure or malfunction of any aircraft component and stated that the fuel gauges had functioned properly before the incident. The PIC executed a forced landing in a vineyard located approximately five miles from the destination airport.
Post-Landing Findings
After the landing, the fuel cap for the left tank was not found at the landing site. No other anomalies were reported during the post-accident examination. The PIC did not indicate any pre-existing issues with the aircraft's fuel system.