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Author Topic: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013  (Read 15978 times)

Offline kitsu

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Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« on: May 31, 2013, 09:07:46 AM »
LiveATC archived audio of a Cessna 177B that crashed into an apartment building near IAD. Incident occurred around 12:10 am EDT (0410z) on May 31, 2013

http://www.wtop.com/149/3342229/Plane-crashes-into-Herndon-apartments  (has photos of plane in building and subsequent removal from building).

No fatalities to anyone on the ground, or the pilot and passenger (and the injuries reported didn't seem too severe overall).

Tail N177FG
« Last Edit: May 31, 2013, 09:40:58 PM by kitsu »



Offline InterpreDemon

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Re: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2013, 09:39:19 AM »
That's what happens when you violate the cardinal rule of never flying into your last hour of fuel, which in my case was always in addition to any alternate requirements. Just forget that gas is even there, plan your flights accordingly, and some day when all the little glitches add up to a big problem your passengers and loved ones may be grateful for your amnesia.

All involved in this incident were just plain lucky... it was not their time to go.

Offline skipd

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Re: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2013, 05:18:11 PM »
Look at his track from KY- flew over or near a number of airports- seemed to have a "blip" in his track over Upper Tract, WV.

Fortunately, he will only lose his license for a few months and did not lose his life or kill anyone.

Too bad he ruined a perfectly good airplane.

Offline dal4098

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Re: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2013, 09:04:41 PM »
skipd, that track you'e talking about came from October 17, 2011. This flight is said to have originated from Philadelphia.

Offline falstro

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Re: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2013, 05:57:49 AM »
Quote from: WTOP
"Good thing it didn't have any (fuel) when it crashed into the living room because we'd probably have a totally different scenario right now," says Capt. Willie F. Bailey with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.

While I agree that, if a plane crashes, fuel will generally aggravate the situation, but in this case you'd have a "totally different scenario" alright, one where the plane didn't crash.  :?

Offline InterpreDemon

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Re: Cessna 177B emergency/crash near IAD - May 31, 2013
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2013, 09:35:05 AM »
Good point, Roe, but if he had had more gas he would have probably had a flame-out and crashed someplace further along. The guy was flying around at night with less than an hour of fuel in his tanks. I don't know how long he has been flying or how much at night, but I know few who would take off with just an hour of fuel... at any time in any conditions, other than perhaps in a Cub or Taylorcraft over open country during daylight, so if you wouldn't take off in those conditions with so little fuel you shouldn't keep flying under even more dangerous conditions... nighttime over a populated area in a light plane that can't fly slower than 55 mph. There may be no old, bold pilots, but there are a few lucky ones.