On February 17, 1996, a Cessna 177A (registration N30422) operated by Jeffrey Meckstroth was involved in an aviation accident near Sidney, OH. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The probable cause is fuel contamination, as evidenced by the brown substance found in the fuel sump drain and the engine's normal operation on auxiliary fuel. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported engine power loss due to fuel contamination, leading to a forced landing in a rough field. The aircraft sustained damage during the landing roll. Postaccident examination found brown substance in the fuel sump drain.
Accident Overview
A pilot reported that while cruising at 3,000 feet MSL, the engine began to sputter and subsequently lost power. In response, the pilot applied carburetor heat, switched fuel tanks, and turned on the fuel boost pumps; however, all restart attempts were unsuccessful. The pilot executed a forced landing in a rough field, during which the airplane sustained damage.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident examination revealed evidence of fuel contamination. A brown-colored substance was found in the fuel sump drain. The engine was test-run using auxiliary fuel and auxiliary electrical power, and during this test run, the engine operated smoothly with no indications of malfunction.
Probable cause
The probable cause is fuel contamination, as evidenced by the brown substance found in the fuel sump drain and the engine's normal operation on auxiliary fuel.