Cessna 177 accident near Murdock, Nebraska, July 27, 2003
On July 27, 2003, a Cessna 177, registered N2336Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murdock, Nebraska (Lincoln Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident were the trees and unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2003
- Place
- Murdock, Nebraska · Lincoln Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N2336Y · no longer on the register · serial 17700136
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during a forced landing. The pilot reported that after fueling the airplane he and a passenger departed for a cross-country flight. While en route the pilot noticed that his fuel gauges were indicating a lower amount of fuel than he had anticipated. The pilot stated that the engine lost power during cruise flight. He was able to restart the engine after switching to the other fuel tank, but only for a short time. The pilot notified the approach controller but was unable to make it to a nearby airport. The pilot performed a forced landing on a local highway. The airplane struck tree branches on the landing roll. Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated that he found out that "there was little fuel if any left in the aircraft." A test run of the accident aircraft's engine revealed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,059 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 3,979 as pilot in command; 2,258 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 21, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 138 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 2003; 12.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,360 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C75 Marshalltown IA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: LNK Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from LNK, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.