# Accident 20000909040509A: Cessna 120, Sacramento, CA, September 9, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2000, 13:30 local time
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Airport: Sacramento Executive Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5107° N, 121.4905° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5107&lon=-121.4905&mi=10
- Aircraft: N76261, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76261-2008-12-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Reported engine: AMTR O200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,295 total, 500 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA332) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000909040509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ENGINE QUIT DURING TAKEOFF. (.4) DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER AND COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF TREES DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES NOTED WITH THE PREFLIGHT, OR TAXI TO THE ACTIVE RUNWAY. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE AIRPORT CLOSED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. ABOUT 4 MINUTES AFTER THE AIRPORT REOPENED, THE PILOT WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED. HE SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICING AND APPLIED THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. HIS INTENT WAS TO LAND IN-BETWEEN TREES ON A GOLF COURSE. AT THE LAST MINUTE HE HAD TO MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE TO AVOID A GOLF CART. HE ATTEMPTED TO STALL THE AIRPLANE INTO THE TOPS OF THE TREES. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT HEARD THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. AT THE ACCIDENT SITE FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT TANK, AND ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRFRAME AND POWER PLANT WERE EXAMINED. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS STIFF TO MOVE AND THE MAIN DISCHARGE NOZZLE WAS LEAKING AND STAINED. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL CABLE RETAINER BOLT WASHER, AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE ROD END RETAINER BOLT WERE BOTH LOOSE. THE C                                         ARBURETOR WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES. NO FURTHER MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE NOTED WITH THE AIRFRAME, POWER PLANT, OR CARBURETOR. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.

## 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 LAX00LA332](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA332), Sep 9, 2000: Cessna 120 (N76261), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his improper use of carburetor heat that resulted in a loss of engine power due to carburetor icing following a delayed takeoff in conditions that were…

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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