# Accident 20230708022629A: Cessna 172N, San Rafael, CA, July 8, 2023 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 8, 2023, 22:03 local time - Place: San Rafael, CA - Airport: San Rafael Airport - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 38.0206° N, 122.5149° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0206&lon=-122.5149&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4922G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4922G) (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: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 1 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 409 total, 31 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA258) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230708022629A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON 7/8/23 A SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA 172N, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT AT SMITH RANCH AIRPORT (CA35) NEAR SAN RAFAEL, CA. TWO OCCUPANTS WERE ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM MINDEN-TAHOE AIRPORT (MEV) WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF SMITH RANCH (CA35) AND OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ADS-B DATA SHOWS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED MINDEN (MEV) AND CIRCLED OVER THE AIRPORT UP TO 12,500' MSL BEFORE TURNING DIRECT TO SMITH RANCH (CA35). ABOUT 40 NM FROM SMITH RANCH (CA35) THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SHALLOW DECENT TO THE AIRPORT UNTIL ADS-B CONTACT WAS LOST .4 NM FROM THE END OF RUNWAY 22. AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 1130' FROM THE THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 22 ON THE WEST SIDE OF WATER CANAL LOCATED OFF THE END OF 22. AIRCRAFT WAS INVERTED WITH THE FRONT OF AIRCRAFT POINTING NE AND PARTIAL SUBMERGED IN WATER. OBVIOUS SIGNS THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD IMPACTED 30-40' TALL POWER LINES LOCATED 1,280' FROM RUNWAY 22 THRESHOLD, ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CANAL. POWER LINE WAS STILL WRAPPED IN AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE, IT TORE THROUGH THE LH STRUT, THROUGH THE LH ELEVATOR, AND THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE RUDDER. DUE TO PROTECTION OF WETLANDS AND AIRPORT LEVY IT WAS DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT MUST BE AIRLIFTED OUT OF THE WATERWAY CANAL. NTSB IIC ARRANGED FOR A HELICOPTER TO RELOCATED THE WRECKED AIRCRAFT. FAA IIC CONTACTED NORCAL TO OBTAIN A TFR FOR THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY TO RELOCATE THE WRECKAGE. WRECKAGE WAS RELOCATED TO THE END OF RUNWAY 22 FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND TO BE LOADED FOR TRANSPORT TO PLANE PARTS. CONTINUITY OF FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES AND ENGINE CONTROL CABLES WAS ESTABLISHED AND NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED: CARB HEAT WAS ON, MIXTURE FULL FORWARD(FULL RICH), THROTTLE APPEARED TO BE PART WAY IN (POWERED DESCENT). POWERLINE WAS STILL WRAPPED AROUND AIRCRAFT ACROSS BOTH DOOR PILLARS WITH TEARING OF SKIN DOWNWARD FROM LOWER WINDSCREEN CORNERS TO STRUTS. ARCHING WAS NOTED MIDSPAN AND TIP OF PROPELLER CONSISTENT WITH CONTACTING ENERGIZED POWERLINES. IMPACT MARKS CONSISTENT WITH THE TYPE AND SIZE OF POWERLINE WERE NOTED ON THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, BOTH WING STRUTS AND EMPENNAGE. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED ANNUAL INSPECTION COMPLETED ON 5/19/23 @ TACH 3256.1. TRANSPONDER AND ALTIMETER INSPECTIONS COULD NOT BE LOCATED AS PERFORMED IN THE PREVIOUS 24 MONTHS. NO OTHER MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. NTSB IIC OBTAINED FUEL RECEIPT FROM MINDEN-TAHOE AIRPORT (MEV), SHOWING THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED 22.6 GALS OF 100LL. THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED TO A SECURE LOCATION FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED TO ALL FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OR ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND PULLED OUT (ON) AND BENT, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT BOX LEVER WAS IN THE ON/HOT POSITION. TACH TIME WAS 3337.0 AND HOBBS WAS 7428.1. BOTH PILOT AND COPILOT SEATS WERE SECURED AT THE THIRD POSITION BACK, NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED OF THE SEAT POSITION LOCKING MECHANISMS. ## 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 WPR23FA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA258), Jul 9, 2023: Cessna 172N (N4922G), San Rafael, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s failure to activate the carburetor heat in a timely manner during the descent. ## Other reports on N4922G (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19980621028629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980621028629I), Jun 21, 1998: Cessna 172N (N4922G), Parker, AZ, Substantial damage. While flying down the Colorado river at a low altitude, pilot did not see electrical wires that spanned the river and did not see the retaining structures on… - [Incident 19911004051309I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911004051309I), Oct 4, 1991: Cessna 172N (N4922G), Torrance, CA, Minor damage. Student pilot lost directional control on a touch and go landing. Veered off side of runway into the dirt. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.