Cessna 177 accident near Nageezi, New Mexico, October 16, 2003
On October 16, 2003 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N2246Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nageezi, New Mexico. 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, inadequate fuel consumption calculations, and improper fuel management. Contributing factors include fuel exhaustion resulting in the loss of power, the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing and the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2003 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Nageezi, New Mexico · 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
- N2246Y · registry record · serial 17700046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had conducted a thorough preflight prior to his departure. He stated he measured 9.5 gallons in the left tank and 9.0 gallons in the right tank using a wooden stick that had been calibrated by another pilot for that specific aircraft. Engine start, taxi, take-off and climb out were normal. During cruise flight at 10,500 feet, the pilot checked the fuel mixture. Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported he switched from both tanks to the right tank. The right tank went dry approximately 3 minutes later so the pilot switched to the left tank. During the pilot's gradual descent, between 8,000 msl and 9,000 msl, the engine lost power. The pilot stated he established a pattern for a forced landing on a "narrow dirt road." During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the brush to the side of the road causing substantial damage to the airplane. Post accident examination revealed the fuel tanks were empty. According to the Cessna pilot operating handbook, the engine consumes 8.5 to 10 gallons of fuel per hour depending on the power setting.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 989 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 989 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,153.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2003; 62.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 5:30 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from FMN, 38 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN04LA011.