Cessna 177 accident near Katy, Texas, December 4, 1994
On December 4, 1994 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N29400, was substantially damaged in an accident near Katy, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 1994 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Katy, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N29400 · registry record · serial 17700864
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED SKY LAKE AIRPORT, WALLER, TEXAS, EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND FLEW TO HOUSTON, LAKESIDE AIRPORT TO PICK UP SOME FUEL ADDITIVE. HE DEPARTED LAKESIDE AIRPORT ON A RETURN FLIGHT TO WALLER, TEXAS, AND HAD LEVELED OFF AT 1,600 FEET MSL WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD, HE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD, STRUCK A ROADWAY MEDIAN, AND CAME TO REST 237 FEET FROM THE INITIAL TOUCH DOWN POINT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF USABLE FUEL IN EITHER FUEL TANK, AND THE FUEL STRAINER CONTAINED LESS THAN A FOURTH OF A CUP OF FUEL. THE FIRE WALL WAS BUCKLED, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR WAS BENT AFT, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKS. THE PILOT STATED IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT THAT HE DEPARTED SKY LAKE AIRPORT WITH AT LEAST 21 GALLONS OF FUEL, AND HE COULD NOT 'PREDICT INFLIGHT LOSS OF FUEL.'
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
- Flight time: 535 hours in all; 419 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-360-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IWS Houston TX at 9:50 pm
- Destination: 3XS7 Waller TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.