# Accident 19981118045009A: Cessna 152, Orinda, CA, November 18, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: November 18, 1998, 20:30 local time - Place: Orinda, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 37.8896° N, 122.1896° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8896&lon=-122.1896&mi=10 - Aircraft: N48201, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48201-2017-05-25) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Cessna 152 (registry code 2071835, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Reported engine: LYC O235L2C - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 52 total, 46 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA034) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981118045009A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 3 MIN. AFTER DESCENDING FROM 4,500 FT. TO 2,000 FT., THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 500-800 RPM, MOMENTARILY, THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. PILOT ATTEMPTED RESTARTING THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. PILOT SELECTED A LANDING SITE NEAR HORSE BARNS, IN HOPES OF A FLAT AREA AWAY FROM THE NEARBY RESERVOIR. WITH FLAPS EXTENDED AND SPEED SLOWED FOR LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF AN OAK TREE AS THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE TREE CUSHIONED THE IMPACT AND CHANGED THE AIRCRAFT TRAJECTORY FROM SOUTH-WEST-BOUND OT THE NORTH-WEST-BOUND IMPACT POSITION, ACROSS A DRIVEWAY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED BETWEEN 30-40% WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS IN FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE GASCALATOR, AND THE CARBURETOR BOWL, WHICH WAS CONSISTENT WITH FUEL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE WING TANKS. (.19) ON NOVEMBER 18, 1998, AT 2030 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 152, N48201, COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR ORINDA, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT, CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, ORIGINATED AT THE CORNING, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT AT 1900, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO THE HAYWARD AIRPORT. NIGHT VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN LEADING ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AS A FLIGHT OF TWO. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT, A CESSNA 172, WAS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AND ALL CONTACT BETWEEN THE TWO AIRCRAFT WAS LOST. THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT REPORTED THAT HE LEVELED OFF AT 2,000 FEET AGL AND CONFIGURED THE AIRPLANE FOR CRUISE FLIGHT WITH THE THROTTLE SET AT 2,000 RPM. AFTER "TWO TO THREE MINUTES" THE RPM DECREASED TO BETWEEN 500 AND 800 RPM. THE PILOT DIDN'T NOTICE ANY ENGINE VIBRATION, BUT REPORTED THAT IT SOUNDED AS IF "SOMEONE SUDDENLY STUFFED COTTON IN YOUR EARS." HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEVER "COUGHED OR SPUTTERED." APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. HE REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND TRANSMITTED A "MAYDAY." THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SQUELCH ON HIS INTERCOM WAS NOT WORKING, CAUSING HIS MICROPHONE NOT TO WORK. ANOTHER PILOT OVERHEARD AND TRANSMITTED HIS CALLS TO OAKLAND APPROACH. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX99LA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA034), Nov 19, 1998: Cessna 152 (N48201), Orinda, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel. A factor was the pilot's inadequate preflight, during which he neglected to note the contamination, and the dark night which made it… ## Other reports on N48201 (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19850201018729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850201018729I), Feb 1, 1985: Cessna 152 (N48201), Sacramento, CA. Student had IFR weather at destination and diverted but had crosswind. During next approach ran out of fuel. - [Accident 19840421022879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840421022879A), Apr 21, 1984: Cessna 152 (N48201), Palo Alto, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot made hard landing causing nose wheel to break off. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.