# NTSB LAX00LA063: Cessna 172G, N3690L, Victorville, CA, January 3, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 2, 2000, 18:00 local (Jan 3, 2000, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Victorville, CA - Coordinates: 34.489261, -117.359786 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4893&lon=-117.3598&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48419 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48419/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA063 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain positional awareness, which resulted in his becoming lost and disoriented. Contributing factors were the pilot's delay requesting assistance from air traffic control and the failure of the airplane's electrical generator. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - light condition - dusk - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command (cause) - proper assistance - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - electrical system,generator - failure (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - sign ## Analysis The pilot reported that, 2 hours 15 minutes after takeoff, the airplane's electrical generator failed and the airplane subsequently experienced electrical power failure. He said the engine then began to run rough. The recently licensed private pilot was not certain of his position and he made a precautionary landing at dusk on a county road. As the airplane touched down, the left wing struck a street sign which deflected the airplane across the highway median and across the (opposite direction) traffic lanes. The accident occurred 2 hours 45 minutes after takeoff. The airway distance from the departure airport to the intended destination was 167 nautical miles, and the distance to the accident location was approximately 142 nautical miles. Subsequent examination and a test run of the engine revealed no reason for the reported roughness. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 2000, at 1800 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172G, N3690L, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing on a county road at Victorville, California. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Riverside (California) Air Service. The flight departed Bullhead City, Arizona, about 1515 and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that 2 hours 15 minutes after takeoff, as he was flying along highway 15, the generator fail annunciator light came on. He reduced the electrical load and noted that the carburetor air temperature and exhaust gas temperature gauges were "climbing above the warning lines." The pilot contacted Southern California (SoCal) Approach Control and explained that he was "not familiar" with the area and requested a vector to the nearest airport. Before SoCal could help, the electrical power failed completely and the engine started to run rough. He decided to land on a road because he was "not sure" of his position and didn't know if the engine gauges were reading correctly. He also reported that the engine was "running rough" and "sputtering" at full throttle. As the airplane touched down, the left wing struck a street sign, which deflected the airplane across the highway median and off the other side of the road. The accident time was 2 hours 45 minutes after takeoff. According to a GTE DUATS flight plan, the low altitude airway distance from Laughlin to Riverside is 167 nautical miles, and the distance from Laughlin to Victorville is approximately 142 nautical miles. The pilot had 90 hours total flying time and received his private pilot certificate on December 9, 1999. The operator sent the engine to an engine repair facility where it was disassembled and inspected, including the carburetor and magnetos. The mechanic there told the Safety Board investigator that no discrepancies were noted that might have led to a power interruption or a rough running engine. The engine was subsequently reinstalled in the airplane and operated normally. The electrical charging system was found to be inoperative and the generator and voltage regulator were replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3690L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3690L), registered now, S/N 17253859, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253859 - Airframe hours: 6030 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Riverside Air Service - Registered owner: Paul Mcclintock - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 1999, 26 hours before - Departed: IFP, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ - Destination: RAL, RIVERSIDE, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 90 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAG, 32 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000102000429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000102000429A), Jan 2, 2000: Cessna 172G, Victorville, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On January 2, 2000, at 1820 hours pacific standard time, a Cessna 172G, N3690L, was substantially damaged during an emergency landing on a county road at… ## Other investigations on N3690L (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 OAK72DVG14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVG14), Aug 10, 1971: Cessna 172 (N3690L), Auburn, CA, substantial damage 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. --- 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.