CESSNA 177

Full Narrative

On July 11, 2010, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 177, N3295T, collided with objects during an off airport forced landing near Chino, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings by impact forces. The local personal flight departed Kernville, California, about 1245, en route to Corona, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he prepared a flight plan the night before his departure. He was going to depart Brackett Field, La Verne, California, and meet a friend at Tehachapi, California. He would then fly to Corona to fuel the airplane prior to returning to Brackett.

The pilot conducted a preflight, and determined that the airplane had sufficient fuel to make the planned 2-hour trip and have appropriate reserves. He flew to Tehachapi, and secured the airplane. After discovering that his friend was at Kern Valley Airport, Kernville, the pilot departed to that location. He did not preflight or consider how this leg would affect his fuel calculations.

After completing his visit at Kernville, the pilot did an abbreviated preflight, which consisted of visually checking the fuel and oil levels. He looked into the tanks, but did not physically measure the amount of fuel. He estimated the amount of fuel on board, and stated that he did not recognize that his fuel level was too low to make the flight. He departed for Corona.

The pilot stated that the airplane was over a housing tract in Chino Hills, California, which was a few miles northwest of Corona, when the fuel supply was exhausted and the engine lost power. He made a forced landing on a golf course, but could not stop the airplane before it collided with ground obstacles.