# Accident 20040229002849A: Piper PA28180, Mariposa, CA, February 29, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 29, 2004
- Place: Mariposa, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4533° N, 120.0567° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4533&lon=-120.0567&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5205L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5205L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-180 (registry code 7102808, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28180
- Reported engine: LYC O360A4A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,904 total, 392 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA143) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040229002849A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ^PRIVACY DATA ^ WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF AIRCRAFT N5205L, WHICH HE OWNED, ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM FULLERTON (FUL) TO MARIPOSA (O68), CA. HE DESCENDED FROM 10,000 FEET MSL IN PREPARATION FOR APPROACH INTO MARIPOSA, CA. AT 4,500 FEET MSL HIS AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT. THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WAS ON, HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND THE CARB. HEAT WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN AGAIN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AND QUIT FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL TIME. HE THEN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE MARIPOSA AIRPORT (O68). THE AIRCRAFT NOSE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER LANDING AND BOGGING DOWN IN THE MUD. THE ENGINE COWLING WAS BENT. THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER WAS BENT. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER, ^PRIVACY DATA OM^ WIFE, SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS FOUR AND ONE HALF GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK AND EIGHT GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

## 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 LAX04LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA143), Feb 29, 2004: Piper PA-28-180 (N5205L), Mariposa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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