# Accident 19990420019579A: Cessna R182, San Luis Obispo, CA, April 20, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 1999, 18:30 local time
- Place: San Luis Obispo, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.2903° N, 120.8098° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2903&lon=-120.8098&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7317X, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7317X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna R182 (registry code 2072734, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r182) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA R182
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA159) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990420019579A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 20, 1999, AT 1834 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA R182, N7317X, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A SIGN DURING AN OFF AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA. THE FORCED LANDING WAS PRECIPITATED BY A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  THE COMMERCIAL LICENSED PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATED BY THE OWNER UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 DEPARTED FROM SAN LUIS OBISPO AT 1815.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS RETURNING FOR LANDING WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY ABOUT 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED THROUGH A STRATUS CLOUD LAYER AND BROKE OUT BENEATH A 900-FOOT CEILING.  THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT GLIDE TO THE AIRPORT AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD ALONG SIDE A HIGHWAY.  INSPECTORS FROM THE SAN JOSE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE REPORTED THAT THE FUEL SUMP CONTAINED A CLEAR FLUID RESEMBLING WATER AND THAT THE RIGHT-HAND FUEL TANK SUMP DRAIN HAD A THREADED PLUG INSTALLED.                                                                                                                          (-23)ON APRIL 20, 1999 AT APPROXIMATELY 1830L WHILE PREPARING FOR APPROACH TO SAN LUIS OBISPO (SBP) AIRPORT, A CESSNA 182 PILOTED BY LYNN MAHIN REPORTED TO SBP TOWER THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN DUE TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE EDGE OF A HIGHWAY COMING TO REST INTO A FORM FENCE WITH NO INJURIES TO THE SOLE OCCUPANT, MR. MAHIN. THE SOURCE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS TRACED TO WATER IN THE CARBURETOR.

## 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 LAX99LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA159), Apr 21, 1999: Cessna R182 (N7317X), San Luis Obispo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate preflight inspection of the aircraft by the pilot-in-command which resulted in a loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel system. A factor in the accident was an…

## Other reports on N7317X (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20011216033769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011216033769A), Dec 16, 2001: Cessna R182 (N7317X), Santa Maria, CA, No damage. (.19) On December 16, 2001, about 1815 hours pacific standard time, a Cessna R182, N7317X, lost engine power on final approach for runway 30 at the Santa Maria…

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.

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