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| NTSB Identification: SEA95LA182. The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System. |
| Accident occurred Saturday, August 12, 1995 at SEATTLE, WA |
| Aircraft: CESSNA 177B, registration: N34767 |
| Injuries: 4 Uninjured |
| Event: 20001207X04382 Status: Final Report Approved On Wednesday, February 14, 1996 |
| NTSB Preliminary Narrative (6120.19A) |
| On August 12, 1995, approximately 2045 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177B, N34767, was substantially damaged during an intentional ditching |
| following a total loss of power while in cruise. The aircraft was ditched approximately 150 feet offshore from Discovery Park, Seattle, |
| Washington. The private pilot and three passengers were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. |
| The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and departed from Hoquiam, Washington. |
| The pilot reported that shortly after he made landfall near Discovery Park the RPM dropped to near zero. The engine recovered and then lost |
| power again. The pilot chose to execute a ditching as no suitable terrain was available to ensure a safe landing. |
| A witness, who stated that he was a pilot, reported observing the aircraft at about 50 feet altitude in very slow flight. He stated that the engine |
| was surging, or cutting in and out. |
| The pilot reported in a telephone interview that he had dipped his fuel tanks about 1530 prior to his first departure of the day from Harvey Field, |
| near Snohomish, Washington. He reported that the fuel on board at that time was 3/4 tanks, and that the aircraft's total capacity was 60 gallons. |
| The standard fuel capacity for this aircraft is 50 gallons, of which 49 gallons are considered usable. |
| After departing Harvey Field, the aircraft was flown to Quillayute Sate airport, near the coast, and then to Hoquiam, Washington (refer to |
| attached chart). The pilot reported that he checked his fuel with a dipstick at both Quillayute and Hoquiam (without refueling), and reported that |
| he had 1/3 tank in one wing, and "close to" 1/3 tank in the other wing prior to the departure from Hoqiuam. He reported departing Hoquiam |
| approximately 2000 hours and that at 2000 feet over West Point [near Discovery Park], the engine "stumbled." He did not try carburetor heat and |
| reported that power was cutting in and out. He set 2300 rpm, which fell off almost to nothing and then caught, then dropped, then caught. |
| In a written statement received 11 days following the accident, the pilot reported that he had departed Harvey field about 1630, and then landed |
| at Quillayute, where he departed within an hour. He stated that he landed at Hoquiam about 1900, remaining on the ground for just over an hour. |
| He stated that he dip-checked the fuel tanks, estimating 1 1/2 to 2 hours of fuel on board, then departed Hoquiam shortly after 2000 for Harvey |
| Field. |
| Approximately 2040, while over Discovery Park at 2000 feet, he experienced a complete power loss. He stated that he "established best glide |
| [speed], went through the emergency check list while looking for most suitable place to put down." He elected to ditch the aircraft due to |
| pedestrians. |
| The pilot and his passengers were rescued by boat and treated for hypothermia. |
| The aircraft was recovered October 1, 1995, after it was snagged by a fisherman. The aircraft's trip log, which reportedly contained the tach |
| time of the departure from Harvey Field, was never recovered. |
| NTSB Final Narrative (6120.4) |
| THE PILOT REPORTED DEPARTING SNOHOMISH AT 1630 ON A THREE-LEG RECREATIONAL FLIGHT WITH BOTH FUEL TANKS 3/4 FULL. HE |
| ALSO REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S TOTAL FUEL CAPACITY WAS 60 GALLONS (STANDARD FUEL CAPACITY OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 50 |
| GALLONS). HE FIRST LANDED AT QUILLAYUTE AND THEN HOQUIAM. THE PILOT STATED THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTING HOQUIAM HE DIPPED |
| THE FUEL TANKS AND ESTIMATED HE HAD 1/3 TANK IN ONE WING AND NEARLY 1/3 IN THE OTHER. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT APPROACHING |
| HIS FINAL DESTINATION, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT OFF-SHORE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED |
| 10/1/95. THE TRIP LOG WAS NEVER RECOVERED. |
| NTSB Probable Cause Narrative |
| LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S). |
| Occurrences and Sequence of Events |
| Occurrence: 1, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER |
| Phase of Operation: CRUISE |
| Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 1 |
| 1 ( Cause ) REASON FOR OCCURRENCE UNDETERMINED / / |
| Occurrence: 2, FORCED LANDING |
| Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY LANDING |
| Occurrence: 3, DITCHING |
| Phase of Operation: EMERGENCY LANDING |
| Sequence of Events for Occurrence Number: 3 |
| 1 (Finding) TERRAIN CONDITIONS / WATER / (0) |
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