Accident Overview
On August 18, 2010, at about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177A (registration N30559) was involved in an off-field forced landing near Manson, Washington. The flight was operated by Skylarks Flying Club under 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; two other passengers were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe from impact forces.
Flight Planning and Preflight
The pilot planned a round trip from Chelan to Cle Elum, Washington, with an outbound leg at 6,500 feet and a return leg at 5,500 feet, including a scenic detour over Lake Chelan. He calculated fuel burn rates of 7.3 gph outbound and 7.4 gph return, using a lean mixture at 2,300 rpm, though he typically flew at 2,200 rpm. He determined 12.3 gallons were needed for the flight, plus 3.5 gallons for VFR reserve.
During preflight, the pilot visually inspected the fuel tanks and estimated them to be 3/4 full, with cockpit gauges showing similar readings. Given the airplane's 48-gallon capacity, he believed he had 30–36 gallons. He confirmed the fuel filler caps were secure and noted no defects.
Departure and Initial Flight
The pilot departed Cle Elum Municipal Airport at 1710, destined for Chelan. He activated his VFR flight plan en route and reported an uneventful flight to Cle Elum. After a visual walk-around at Cle Elum, he departed again, activating the flight plan. The flight remained uneventful until reaching Lake Chelan.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
Approaching Lake Chelan, the pilot descended to about 600 feet agl and flew up the lake briefly before reversing course toward Chelan Airport. Abeam Manson, the engine began to run rough. He initiated a climb, but the engine stopped. He established a power-off glide at 80 mph and selected a field for landing. He confirmed the fuel valve, fuel selector, and auxiliary fuel pump were in correct positions, but the engine would not restart. He set flaps to 20 degrees. The engine briefly restarted, altering his aim point toward a berm. He elected to turn left, losing altitude but improving the landing area. The airplane touched down wings level near stall speed in rough terrain, sustaining substantial damage.
Post-Accident Observations
In the pilot/operator report, he indicated 12 gallons of fuel on board at the last takeoff from Cle Elum. He stated that after the off-airport landing, the tanks were reported as dry, and he believed a fuel leak occurred. Prior to landing, the fuel gauges showed nearly empty on the right and about 1/4 on the left. In a post-accident interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot said he did not use a calibrated fuel measuring device and did not check fuel level at Cle Elum before departure. When asked how the airplane ran out of fuel, he had no explanation.