NTSB Factual Report

On June 7, 2007, about 0605 central daylight time, a Cessna 177 airplane, N2845X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during an emergency landing on a dirt road, about 15 miles southwest of the Bibb County Airport, Centreville, Alabama. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Centreville about 0600.

In a written statement to the NTSB dated June 17, the pilot wrote that during the preflight inspection both fuel tank gauges indicated between one-quarter full and empty. He reported that he felt there was sufficient fuel for the 15 minute flight to the Marion Airport, Marion, Alabama. He wrote that about 8 minutes into the flight the engine lost all power, and he made an emergency landing on a dirt road. During the landing the wings, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer received substantial damage. In the report, the pilot noted that based on the small amount of fuel found at the [accident] site, he believed fuel exhaustion was the cause of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to refuel the airplane prior to fuel exhaustion, which resulted in a loss of engine power and substantial damage during a forced landing on a road.