Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Polk City, Florida 33686
Wednesday, September 14, 1988 20:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

PLT FAILED TO INSURE ACFT HAD ADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY FOR FLT. THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD. THE PLT SAID THAT HE EXPERIENCED STRONGER THAN EXPECTED HEAD WINDS. POST ACC INVEST REVEALED THAT THE ACFT FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY WITH NO EVIDENCE OF SPILLAGE OR LEAKAGE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/14/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2025
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City POLK CITY
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33686
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID ORL
Elevation of weather observation facility 113
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Bright
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1300
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1422
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 14 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2335
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37550
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2357Y
NTSB Number MIA88LA268
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier 177
Aircraft Serial Number 17700157
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 12 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 93
Airframe Hours 1297
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILES D DICK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1906 HARDEE ROAD SE
Aircraft Owner City WINTER HAVEN
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33884
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWARD WHITMIRE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 213 ORLEANDER ROAD
Operator City LAKE WALES
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33853
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 40J
Departure City PERRY
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1810
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GIF
Destination City WINTER HAVEN
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --