Cessna 177 accident near White Swan, Washington, October 16, 2021
On October 16, 2021 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 177, registered N3388T, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near White Swan, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's improper fuel management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2021 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- White Swan, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177, built 1968 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3388T · registry record · serial 17700688
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, after the takeoff he switched to the right fuel tank to verify that it was working, and then switched back to the left tank to run it dry for upcoming maintenance. When the engine began to sputter, he switched to the right tank, but the engine lost all power, despite turning the fuel pump on, pumping the throttle, and again switching back to the left tank. He force-landed the airplane to a dirt field where the nose landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot examined the fuel tanks and discovered that the left tank had about 2 gallons remaining, and the right tank had about 15 gallons remaining. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute
- Fuel starvation during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 605 hours in all; 427 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days; 567 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2019
- Medical certificate: Unknown (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,213 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2021; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 3,200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA97 Zillah WA at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KOMK, 28 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOMK 162153Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM CLR 18/04 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP143 T01780039
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 9, 2021. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.