Cessna 177-A accident near Gainesville, Florida, August 29, 1990
On August 29, 1990 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Cessna 177-A, registered N30306, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gainesville, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1990 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177-A · all 177-As on the register
- Registration
- N30306 · registry record · serial 17701183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD FLOWN THE AIRPLANE 30 MINUTES SINCE THE LAST REFUELING. HE DEPARTED ON A CROSSCOUNTRY FLIGHT AND HE TOLD HIS PASSENGER HE WAS LOW ON FUEL AND INITIATED A DESCENT TO AN AIRPORT SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION. DURING THE DESCENT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND THE GROUND DURING THE ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED 1/2 GALLON OF FUEL IN EACH OF THE UNDAMAGED FUEL TANKS AND 4 OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,069 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1990; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3J7 Greensboro GA at 1:15 pm
- Destination: OCF Ocala FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:11 pm from GNV, 2 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.