# Accident 20090307003879A: Cessna 172R, Oceanside, CA, March 7, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 7, 2009, 17:50 local time
- Place: Oceanside, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2992° N, 117.4675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2992&lon=-117.4675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2478B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2478B-2013-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172R (registry code 2072401, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (registry code 41597, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172R
- Reported engine: LYC IO360L2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 370 total, 245 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090307003879A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED JOHN WAYNE-ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT, SANTA ANA, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 PM PST, ON A DAY, VFR FLIGHT TO MONTGOMERY FIELD, SAN DIEGO, CA.  FLIGHT PROCEDED SOUTHBOUND, ALONG PACIFIC OCEAN COASTLINE, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3500 FT, UTILIZING VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING SERVICES OF SOCAL TRACON.  AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45 PM, APPROACHING OCEANSIDE, CA AND ADJACENT TO THE CAMP PENDLETON MARINE CORPS BASE, THE PILOT DESCRIBES FEELING "TWO SMALL JOLTS AND A LOSS OF POWER."  DESCENDING AND UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER, PILOT DECLARED EMERGENCY WITH SOCAL TRACON, ESTABLISHED BEST GLIDE SPEED AND PREPARED FOR A FORCED LANDING ON A LARGE HELIPAD AT CAMP PENDLETON.  FOLLOWING A HARD LANDING AND LOSS OF NOSE GEAR, AIRCRAFT CONTINUED FORWARD, DESCENDING INTO AND STRIKING FAR SIDE OF A DITCH.  IMPACT FORCES SEVERED THE ENGINE AT THE FIREWALL AND SEPARATED THE ENTIRE TAIL SECTION AT THE AFT CABIN ATTACH POINT.  ABNORMAL WET OIL ACCUMULATION/STREAKING WAS EVIDENT ALONG FUSELAGE, STRUTS, TAIL AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS.  SUBSEQUENT ENGINE INSPECTION REVEALED THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER FRACTURED AND SEPARATED WHERE THE HEAD JOINS THE BARREL.

## 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 WPR09LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA145), Mar 8, 2009: Cessna 172R (N2478B), Oceanside, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power in flight due to the fatigue failure of the No. 4 cylinder.

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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