On August 1, 1986, a Cessna 177RG (registration N52476) was involved in an aviation accident near Oshkosh, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An IFR flight experienced an engine failure during approach to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, leading to a ditching in Lake Winnebago. Examination revealed fuel exhaustion as the cause.
Incident Overview
An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight encountered an engine failure while on the landing approach to the destination airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot subsequently ditched the aircraft in Lake Winnebago.
Fuel Status and Time
The pilot reported that the aircraft had 60 gallons of fuel on board at the time of takeoff. The ditching occurred 4 hours and 32 minutes after takeoff.
Manufacturer's Fuel Consumption Data
According to the manufacturer's calculations, the fuel consumption rate for the aircraft in cruise flight at 5,000 feet MSL using 75 percent power with the mixture leaned to provide an appropriate fuel/air ratio is 10.8 gallons per hour.
Examination Findings
An examination of the aircraft showed that the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion.