Incident Overview
On Monday, 2 May 2005, at 16:37 local time, a Cessna 177RG aircraft, registration EC-GAX, experienced a complete loss of engine power while on a local flight near Alcaudete de la Jara, Toledo. The aircraft had departed from Casarrubios del Monte Airfield at 16:16 local, with the pilot and one passenger on board. The intended flight duration was approximately 50 minutes.
Sequence of Events
About 20 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of roughly 500 feet above ground level, the pilot noticed a loss of engine power, immediately followed by explosions emanating from the engine. The pilot decided to execute an emergency landing in a recently plowed field approximately 400 meters in length. To prevent the aircraft from nosing over during landing, the pilot retracted the landing gear and performed the touchdown with the engine shut down and full flaps extended. The aircraft rolled about 50 meters before coming to a complete stop.
Occupant Status
Both the pilot and the passenger were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft without assistance.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically to one propeller blade and the underside of the fuselage. There was no fire.
Post-Incident Inspection
A pre-disassembly inspection of the aircraft at the accident site revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. No evidence of fuel leaks, spills, or any other anomalies in the fuel system was found.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that before departure, he believed the aircraft had approximately 50 to 60 liters of fuel on board, which he estimated would provide about 1.5 hours of flight time.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the most likely cause of the incident was fuel exhaustion during the flight.