Cessna T337 accident near Homosassa, Florida, November 8, 2018
On November 8, 2018 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna T337, registered N1ZR, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Homosassa, Florida. 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
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of power in both engines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2018 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Homosassa, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T337 G, built 1977 · all T337s on the register
- Registration
- N1ZR · registry record · serial P3370275
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, 2 days before the accident flight, the multiengine airplane's fuel tanks were filled (150 gallons). During the taxi to the runway, the right main tire blew. During recovery, the right side of the airplane was placed on a dolly to support the gear so that the airplane could be towed. The pilot reported that, due to the airplane’s fuel system design, when one side of the airplane was raised, all the fuel could be transferred to the opposite tank, which then forced the fuel to be released out of the air vent line. On the day of the accident, the pilot completed his preflight inspection and visually confirmed the fuel quantity by checking both fuel gauges, which were "green"; however, he did not verify the fuel onboard by checking the tanks. About 3 hours into the flight, the rear engine lost power. Before the pilot attempted to restart the rear engine and after he verified the correct engine to feather, the front engine also lost power. When the pilot realized the airplane would be unable to reach the nearest airport, he landed it in a grass marsh with the landing gear retracted. During the landing, the airplane’s wing hit grass and then veered right about 90°, which caused the left wing to dip and impact terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. During his preflight inspection, the pilot should have verified the fuel quantity in the fuel tanks to ensure there was sufficient fuel onboard for the flight, and his failure to do so led to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent total loss of power in both engines.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft servicing event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Landing gear not configured during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,293 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: September 11, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,879.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 21, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-520-NB16 (piston); 740 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental TSIO-520-NB16 (piston); 740 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MEM Memphis TN
- Destination: BKV Brooksville FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from KCGC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 1, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Insurance Statement | PDF, 22 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Picture | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
