On September 3, 1988, a Cessna 177RG (registration N52655) was involved in an aviation accident near Berkeley, KY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine lost power because the fuel selector was set to the left tank only, leading to the depletion of fuel in that tank while the right tank remained full. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot was forced to land in trees after the engine lost power due to an incorrect fuel selector setting during a VFR flight.
What happened
The pilot departed with six hours of fuel on board. During the flight, low ceilings were encountered, necessitating flight at altitudes between 300 and 500 feet AGL to maintain Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. Approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes after departure, the engine began to sputter and subsequently lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a wooded area.
While securing the aircraft following the impact, the pilot noticed that the fuel selector was set to the 'left' tank position rather than the 'both' position used for standard flight operations. The pilot also noted that the aircraft's fuel gauges were non-operational, and fuel consumption had been monitored via elapsed time and known average fuel flow.
The investigation
A post-crash examination conducted by an IA mechanic at the accident site revealed that the right fuel tank was completely full. The left fuel tank had sustained impact damage and contained only approximately one pint of fuel.
Probable cause
The engine lost power because the fuel selector was set to the left tank only, leading to the depletion of fuel in that tank while the right tank remained full.