DELAWARE CITY, DE, USA
N18038
CESSNA 177
THE ACFT DEPARTED CHARLESTON, SC AT ABOUT 1730 WITH 42 GALS (5 HRS) OF FUEL ON BOARD FOR THE PLANNED 4 HR FLT TO SMYRNA, DE. HEADWINDS OF 10 TO 20 KTS WERE ENCOUNTERED EN ROUTE, PUTTING THE FLT IN THE SMYRNA AREA 45 MINS LATE WITH ONLY 15 MINS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE PLT FOUND THAT THE PLT-ACTIVATED-RWY-LIGHTS WERE INOP. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO ACTIVATE THE LIGHTS & FLYING THE PATTERN DOWN TO 200 FT, THE PLT DIVERTED TO WILMINGTON ARPT, ABOUT 30 MILES NORTH. THE ENG LOST POWER AT AN ALTITIDE OF 2000 FT WHEN THE ACFT WAS APRX 8 MILES SOUTH OF WILMINGTON. A SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING OCCURRED IN A SWAMPY AREA. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AFTER THE NOSEWHEEL BECAME MIRED IN MUD DURING THE LANDING. THE PLT STATED THAT HE WAS LATER TOLD THAT PERSONNEL AT SMYRNA HAD SHUT DOWN THE RWY LIGHT SYS FOR MAINTENANCE & HAD NOT REACTIVATED THE LIGHTS WHEN THEY HAD FINISHED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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