20031215034409A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 182P · Watsonville, CA · December 15, 2003

Date: December 15, 2003 · 15:13 local
Place: Watsonville, CA
Airport: Watsonville Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N1595M
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04FA068
Reported as: Cessna 182P
Reported engine: Continental O470*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,081 total1,408 in this make and model2 in the last 90 days

N1595MRegistration cancelled Jul 14, 2004 · Cessna 182PS/N 18264385 · Built 1975 Airframe modelCessna 182P Engine modelContinental O-470 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Shortly after take-off from Watsonville Municipal Airport (wvi) at approximately 1300 PST the aircraft engine failed at about 200 to 300 feet above ground level. Pilot made about a 90 degree left hand descending turn before impacting the ground, wings level. NTSB was on scene and discovered water in the carburetor. Telephone conversation with pilot revealed that he pulled the low point strainer knob but didn't check the wings for water. Suspect water contamination of fuel system to be causal to accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF FROM WATSONVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (WVI) AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 PST THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED AT ABOUT 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. PILOT MADE ABOUT A 90 DEGREE LEFT HAND DESCENDING TURN BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND, WINGS LEVEL. NTSB WAS ON SCENE AND DISCOVERED WATER IN THE CARBURETOR. TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH PILOT REVEALED THAT HE PULLED THE LOW POINT STRAINER KNOB BUT DIDN'T CHECK THE WINGS FOR WATER. SUSPECT WATER CONTAMINATION OF FUEL SYSTEM TO BE CAUSAL TO ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04FA068Accident · Minor injuriesField investigationFinal reportWatsonville, CAa loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. A contributing factor was the pilot/owner's failure to comply with the appropriate Airworthiness Directive.Dec 15, 2003 · Destroyed