What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On April 14, 2002, about 2045 pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N211CA, collided with the ground during an off airport forced landing at lake los angeles, California. The airplane was operated by first class air service of van nuys, California, under 14 CFR part 91. The private pilot and passenger both received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the departure point for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at apple valley, California, about 2030, and was destined for van nuys. Post accident examination of the engine revealed that the number 3 engine cylinder steel barrell had seperated 360 degrees around it's circumference. (-23) aircraft enroute from victorville, CA to van nuys airport, van nuys, CA via Palmdale area (no moon light). After take-off @ 8,000' while climbing to 8500', approx 13 to 14 miles east of Palmdale airport, engine starts to run rough - then engine quits running @ 8200'. Restarted engine, very rough, shut down, prepared for emergency landing. Pilot attempted to land aircraft on dirt road, saw high tension line wires at touchdown, turned to avoi d wires, crashed aircraft into sand dunes and flipped aircraft onto back.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON APRIL 14, 2002, ABOUT 2045 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172, N211CA, COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING AN OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING AT LAKE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY FIRST CLASS AIR SERVICE OF VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA, UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER BOTH RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE DEPARTURE POINT FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT APPLE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 2030, AND WAS DESTINED FOR VAN NUYS. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE CYLINDER STEEL BARRELL HAD SEPERATED 360 DEGREES AROUND IT'S CIRCUMFERENCE. (-23) AIRCRAFT ENROUTE FROM VICTORVILLE, CA TO VAN NUYS AIRPORT, VAN NUYS, CA VIA PALMDALE AREA (NO MOON LIGHT). AFTER TAKE-OFF @ 8,000' WHILE CLIMBING TO 8500', APPROX 13 TO 14 MILES EAST OF PALMDALE AIRPORT, ENGINE STARTS TO RUN ROUGH - THEN ENGINE QUITS RUNNING @ 8200'. RESTARTED ENGINE, VERY ROUGH, SHUT DOWN, PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY LANDING. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND AIRCRAFT ON DIRT ROAD, SAW HIGH TENSION LINE WIRES AT TOUCHDOWN, TURNED TO AVOI D WIRES, CRASHED AIRCRAFT INTO SAND DUNES AND FLIPPED AIRCRAFT ONTO BACK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.