# Accident 20081210852619A: Cessna 172, Lompoc, CA, December 10, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 2008, 14:35 local time
- Place: Lompoc, CA
- Airport: Lompoc
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.6656° N, 120.4675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6656&lon=-120.4675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6461E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6461E-2014-12-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172 (registry code 2072402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 780 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081210852619A

## Narrative

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

N6461E CRASHED IN A FIELD A QUARTER MILE EAST OF LOMPOC AIRPORT. PRIOR TO IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT HIT SEVERAL POWER LINES JUST EAST OF THE CRASH SITE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SUFFICIENT FUEL IN THE TANKS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE, THE PROPELLER DID NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF ROTATION. AS OF 12/19/2208, PILOT RECORDS HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECOVERED.

## 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 WPR09LA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA056), Dec 10, 2008: Cessna 172 (N6461E), Lompoc, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience.

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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