Cessna 177 accident near Rota, Cq, May 25, 1997
On May 25, 1997 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N53079, was destroyed in an accident near Rota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the unauthorized use of automobile gasoline which led to the loss of engine power due to fuel vapor generation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1997 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Rota, CQ
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N53079 · no longer on the register · serial 17700533
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft had been airborne for 30 minutes cruising at 4,500 feet msl when it lost fuel pressure and engine power, and ditched in the ocean. The aircraft was not recovered. The pilot reported they departed with 30 plus gallons of automotive gasoline for the 130 mile trip. According to the engine manufacturer this engine was designed for a minimum of 91/96 aviation grade fuel. There are FAA Supplemental Type Certificates for the use of automobile gasoline in this engine with requirements to verify the specifications of the auto gas being used, and information about the increased tendency for carburetor icing and vapor generation with its use. The aircraft records were obtained from FAA Oklahoma City, and no record of approval for the use of automobile gasoline via FAA form 337 was found.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1997
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGSN Saipan OF at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PGUM Guam OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N53079 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.