# Accident 20200502006029A: Cessna 172N, Fresno, CA, May 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2020, 09:48 local time
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Airport: Fresno Sierra Skypark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8403° N, 119.8694° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8403&lon=-119.8694&mi=10
- Aircraft: N734NW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N734NW-2022-03-19) (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: FRANKLIN 6A-350
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 784 total, 696 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA136) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200502006029A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED R/W 30 INTO A 20 KT HEADWIND. CLIMBING ABOVE 400' AGL, THE PILOT AND WITNESSES OBSERVED / HEARD ENGINE SURGING AND THE PIC STATED POWER WAS LOST. HE ELECTED TO TURN 180 DEGREES BACK TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY, DUE TO LACK OF ANY GOOD OPTIONS IN THE RIVER CANYON UNDER HIM AND AHEAD. HE LANDED LONG ON R/W 12 WITH A 20 KNOT TAILWIND AND TOUCHED DOWN WITH 540 FT REMAINING OF THE 2500 FT RUNWAY. HE OVERRAN THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDED ACROSS THE GRAVEL OVERRUN AND PLOWED THROUGH 2 WELDED STEEL FENCES, KNOCKING OFF THE NOSE GEAR AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR, THEN ACROSS A BIKE TRAIL AND DIAGONALLY ACROSS THE 3 WESTBOUND LANES OF  A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, SKIDDING ON ITS NOSE AND RIGHT WINGTIP. THE PROP MADE 3 WIDE SPACED ROTATIONAL SCARS IN THE PAVEMENT. THE PROPELLER HUB STRUCK THE CEMENT CURB OF THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN, AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED LONGITUDINALLY ONTO ITS BACK, COMING TO REST INVERTED 190 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE FENCE IMPACT AND OVERTURN SEPARATED THE ENGINE FROM THE FIREWALL. THE PILOT, WHO WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT, WAS WEARING A 3 POINT HARNESS, AND RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. NO CARS ON THE NORMALLY BUSY HIGHWAY WERE INVOLVED, DUE TO THE SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER IN EFFECT FOR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE FUEL TANKS CONTAINED 28 GALLONS OF 100 LL AVGAS, WHICH WAS FOUND LEAKING OUT OF THE FUEL CAPS IN THE STORAGE AREA, WITH BLUE STAINS VISIBLE ON TOP OF THE WINGS, SEEPING FROM THE SECURELY FASTENED FUEL CAPS. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND IN THE 20 DEGREE POSITION. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION, AND THE FLAP SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD TURNED THE FUEL OFF INTENTIONALLY, AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 WPR20LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA136), May 2, 2020: Cessna 172 (N734NW), Fresno, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

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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