# Accident 20090306004589A: Cessna 172N, Ocenside, CA, March 6, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 6, 2009
- Place: Ocenside, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: N726RJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N726RJ-2012-05-01) (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 O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 160 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090306004589A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2009, CESSNA 172, N726RJ, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, CRASHED INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN 40 MILES WEST OF OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA.  THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT, WAS FATALLY INJURED.  RADAR REPORTS FROM US COAST GUARD AND SO CAL TRACON INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MYF AT 1148 PST NORTHBOUND TOWARD THE COASTLINE.  THE AIRCRAFT FLEW NORTHBOUND TO JUST SOUTH OF HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA WHERE IT DEPARTED THE COASTLINE OVER THE WATER AND CIRCLED SANTA CATALINA ISLAND.  RADAR DATA INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT DECENDED FROM 13,600 FEET TO 800 FEET IN ONE MINUTE, APPARENTLY CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN AFTER RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AT 1353 PST.  EXCEPT FOR CLIMB TO CRUISE ALTITUDE AND THE RAPID DESCENT, RADAR DATA INDICATES THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO FL130-FL140 AND WAS OPERATING AT ALTITUDES BETWEEN 13,000 AND 14,000 FT MSL FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF FLIGHT.  THE PILOT REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A FULL WEATHER BRIEFING FROM PRESCOTT AFSS AT 0807 PST.  AFTER BEING ADVISED VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED UNTIL AFTERNOON, THE PILOT STATED HE WOULD DELAY HIS DEPARTURE AND CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.  PILOT RECEIVED NO UPDATES.  ACTUAL WEATHER AT THE ACCIDENT SITE IS UNKNOWN.

## 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 WPR09LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA149), Mar 6, 2009: Cessna 172N (N726RJ), Oceanside, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of aircraft control 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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