On July 1, 1995, a Cessna 177B (registration N13734) was involved in an aviation accident near Nappanee, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot to do adequate preflight planning and failure to refuel when he had the opportunity. A factor in the accident was the soft field due to recent rains. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Pilot departed with fuel gauges indicating half full, performed a full-stop landing without refueling, then a practice approach and missed approach. Engine sputtered, forced landing in soft field resulted in nose-over.
Incident Details
The pilot began the flight with fuel gauges showing half full. He completed one full-stop landing but did not refuel. On the return leg, after executing a practice approach and missed approach procedure, the engine sputtered. The pilot decided to shut down the engine and conduct a forced landing.
Landing and Outcome
The landing occurred in a bean field. Recent rains had left the ground soft. During the landing roll, the nose wheel dug into the soil, causing the aircraft to flip over onto its back.
Post-Inspection Findings
During subsequent inspection, both wing tank sumps were drained. Each sump contained approximately one-third cup of fuel.