Zephryhills, Fl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zephyrhills, Florida 33541
Monday, May 14, 2001 1:13 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After refueling ,the pilot was enroute home when the engine suddenly lost power and quit. The airplane collided with the ground as he attempted an emergency landing. No fuel was recovered from the fuel system and no fuel was observed at the accident site. The pilot reported refueling with 20 gallons of fuel before departing, but stated he did not visually check the fuel quantity. No mechanical malfunction was found with the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT PLAN FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT THAT RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 113
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Zephyrhills
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33541
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ZEPHRYHILLS, FL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ZPH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 4
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10363
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 14 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 305
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2001 10:56AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office TAMPA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2890X
NTSB Number ATL01LA054
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 177-00290
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 Nov 1 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANNY ABBRUZZESE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8801 SPARKLEBERRY LANE
Aircraft Owner City ZEPHYRHILLS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33541-749
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EYW
Departure City KEY WEST
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2230
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ZPH
Destination City ZEPHRYHILLS
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 5 2001 11:12AM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --