Cessna 177B accident near Quincy, Florida, February 27, 2008
On February 27, 2008 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N49AF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Quincy, Florida (Quincy Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel, resulting in fuel exhaustion and the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2008 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Quincy, Florida · Quincy Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N49AF · no longer on the register · serial 17701770
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was attempting a long cross-country flight, with a planned fuel stop at an airport about halfway to his intended destination. While en route to the planned fuel stop, the airplane consumed more fuel than planned due to greater than forecasted headwinds. The pilot also elected to fly at a lower than planned altitude, in order to avoid turbulence. Although the flight was consuming more fuel than planned, the pilot believed that an adequate amount of fuel remained to fly to the planned fuel stop and beyond. After landing uneventfully for the planned fuel stop, the pilot was informed that the airport fixed base operator had run out of fuel. The pilot then elected to depart, and refuel the airplane at an airport about 10 miles away. While on final approach to that airport, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed that approximately 3.5 total gallons of aviation fuel was recovered from the airplane's four fuel tanks. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel exhaustion during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,360 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,260 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,087 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 68J Tallahassee FL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 2J9 Quincy FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,964 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from TLH, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.