On July 12, 1996, a Cessna 177RG (registration N8059G) was involved in an aviation accident near Rockaway, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's impairment of judgment and performance due to alcohol which led to his inadequate preflight of the aircraft and his inadequate inflight decision which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane lost engine power at 700 ft; pilot turned toward a mall parking lot but struck a power line during descent. Fuel tanks were empty, and the pilot's medical certificate and flight review were expired. Toxicology showed a blood alcohol level of 0.060%.
Sequence of Events
The airplane was in flight at an altitude of approximately 700 feet above ground level when the engine experienced a loss of power. The pilot initiated a turn toward a shopping mall parking lot, intending to land there. During the descent, the airplane struck a power line. The subsequent impact with the ground occurred in a nose-low attitude, and the nose landing gear collapsed.
Post-Accident Examination
An examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. The fuel quantity gauges indicated empty, and there was no evidence of fuel siphoning or leakage on the airplane.
Pilot-Related Information
The pilot reported that he did not check the fuel quantity before the flight, but instead estimated the amount. The pilot's medical certificate had expired, and his flight review was past due. Toxicology testing conducted by a police toxicologist indicated that the pilot had a blood alcohol level of 0.060%.