# Accident 20010418006639A: Cessna 172G, Lancaster, CA, April 18, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2001, 13:30 local time
- Place: Lancaster, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6980° N, 118.1367° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lancaster, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6980&lon=-118.1367&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4672L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4672L-2012-11-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172G (registry code 2072420, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172G
- Reported engine: CONT O300D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,600 total, 300 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010418006639A

## Narrative

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

(-19) ON APRIL 18, 2001, AT 1420 HOURS PDT, A CESSNA 172B, N4672L, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING AN OFF-AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING, 28 MILES WEST OF LANCASTER, CA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FORCED LANDING WAS PRECIPITATED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERICAL PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE SECOND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY THE OWNER UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA, AT 1400, AND WAS DESTINED FOR ROSAMOND, CA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.                                         (-23) APPEARS THAT THE PILOT BECAME ENGROSSED IN THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT, WHICH WAS LOOKING AT WILDFLOWERS WITH 2 PAX, GOT LOW, FOUND HIMSELF IN A BOX CANYON WIHT RISING TERRAIN, AND NOT CONSIDERING THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AND PAYLOAD, TRIED TO CLIMB OUT AND HIT THE GROUND WITH WINGS LEVEL. THE PILOT, HOWEVER, SAYS THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT. THE PROPELLER WAS NOT TURNING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND.                                                                                                              (.4) THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB THE AIRPLANE INTO RISING TERRAIN IN A BOX CANYON. SURFACE WIND AT 18 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 24 KNOTS FORMED A DOWNDRAFT ON THE LEE SIDE OF A RIDGE FORMING ONE SIDE OF THE CANYON. THE DENSITY ALTIUDE WAS 5,000 FEET. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT "EXPERIENCED INVOLUNTARY DESCENT" AND DESPITE FULL ENGINE POWER THE AIRCRAFT WAS "UNABLE TO GAIN/MAINTAIN ALTIUDE RESULTING IN [A] FORCED LANDING." HE ALSO REPORTED HE "PUT IN A LITTLE FLAP TO KEEP FROM SETTLING." NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## 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 LAX01LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA149), Apr 18, 2001: Cessna 172B (N4672L), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay reversing course while flying toward rising terrain in a box canyon. Factors in the accident included a downdraft on the lee side of a ridge forming the box canyon, high density…

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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