On August 1, 2007, a Cessna 177RG (registration N177RV) operated by Eric P Ward was involved in an aviation accident near Kennesaw, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during approach. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot on a cross-country flight contacted an airport tower not his destination, reported low fuel, then declared an emergency after fuel exhaustion. The airplane impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude; post-crash examination found no fuel in the tanks.
Incident Summary
A pilot flying a short cross-country flight contacted an air traffic control tower at an airport that was not his intended destination. The pilot reported being approximately 5 miles north of the airport, low on fuel, and requested to land quickly.
Communication with ATC
The air traffic controller instructed the pilot to enter a left base leg for runway 9. The pilot subsequently stated that he was out of fuel and declared an emergency. The controller advised the pilot that the airplane was 2 miles north of the airport and asked if he was in the vicinity of a highway. The pilot replied that he was "stalling," and the airplane impacted a wooded area in a nose-down attitude.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed that there was no fuel in the fuel tanks and no evidence of fuel throughout the fuel system. Additionally, there was no evidence of a fuel leak.