# Accident 20031207031259A: Cessna 172N, Atwater, CA, December 7, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 7, 2003, 15:30 local time
- Place: Atwater, CA
- Airport: Castle Afb
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5236° N, 120.5697° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5236&lon=-120.5697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N739SU, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739SU-2013-02-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320H2AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031207031259A

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING THE CERTIFICATION OF A PRIVATE PILOT AND MANEUVERING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER, THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER AND WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A GULLY 9 MILES NORTH FROM THE CASTLE AIRPORT (MER) NEAR ATWATER, CA. THE DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER TOOK OVER IN-COMMAND OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THIS EMERGENCY.

## 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 LAX04LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA062), Dec 8, 2003: Cessna 172N (N739SU), Snelling, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to oil starvation caused by the failure of the engine driven oil pump.

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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