# NTSB LAX00LA135: Cessna 172, N7354A, Corona, CA, March 25, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2000, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Location: 33.8753° N, 117.5664° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Corona, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8753&lon=-117.5664&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49328/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation, and his improper remedial actions that led to a precautionary landing and subsequent attempted takeoff from unsuitable terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - rough/uneven - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not attained, pilot in command - throttle/power control - reduced, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot and passengers had taken off from Goodyear airport in Phoenix, Arizona for a flight to Santa Ana, California. The pilot said he obtained a weather briefing from the airport at Goodyear, but did not check with anybody concerning the fog he encountered near Corona, California. He stated that the Riverside and Corona area was 'socked in' with heavy fog and clouds, but that the outlying areas in the Moreno Valley were clear. He stated that the fog was coming in fast with low ceilings, so he decided to land in the clearing. While they were at the clearing, the pilot's father went to a nearby landfill and purchased approximately 18 gallons of automotive fuel for the airplane. After the fog began to clear, the pilot said they got ready to takeoff, and he got about 2-3 feet in the air when the engine suddenly died as if he had pulled back on the throttle. He said he also heard a popping noise but could not determine if it was the engine or a rock hitting the airplane. Later the pilot told FAA investigators that he did not have a problem with the engine. After the accident, at the request of the local fire department officials, the pilot drained approximately 18 gallons of fuel from the airplane. During a postaccident examination, the engine was started normally three times, with good throttle response and normal oil pressure. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2000, at 1100 hours Pacific Standard Time a Cessna 172, N7354A, experienced a loss of engine power during takeoff from an off-airport clearing near Corona, California, and subsequently collided with ground obstructions. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot/owner and his three passengers were not injured. The personal flight was being flown under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was destined for Santa Ana, California airport and a flight plan was not filed. The airplane had departed from the Goodyear, Arizona, airport approximately 0430 mountain standard time. The pilot reported that as the flight neared coastal hills near Corona, he encountered a rapidly moving fog bank and made a precautionary landing in the clearing at 0727. The pilot said that from the air the clearing looked rather level, but that it was rough after touchdown. He did a walk-around after landing, and did not specifically look for any engine damage due to the rough terrain. He could see the fog coming in with a low ceiling and did not want to risk going over the mountains in the weather while low on fuel. The pilot stated that he did have enough fuel to continue his flight into Santa Ana airport or Corona airport. The pilot stated he did obtain a weather briefing from a computer while he was at Goodyear airport, but he did not obtain any in-flight briefings or forecasts once he was airborne, or after he saw the fog moving into his vicinity. While they were on the ground in the clearing, the pilot's father contacted an individual at a nearby landfill and purchased approximately 18.0 gallons of automotive fuel for the airplane. The pilot said that they did not have a receipt for the fuel purchase. He said that after the fog began to clear he got ready to takeoff from the clearing. He said that he was about 2-3 feet above the ground when the engine suddenly died, like he had pulled back on the throttle. Additionally, he said he heard a "popping noise" but could not determine where that was coming from. The airplane started coming down and the pilot veered to the left to miss a tree, then touched down and bounced about three times, hitting both wings. The airplane came to rest on the left wing and left tire. During conversations with investigators, the pilot commented that he "should have diverted earlier and he would not have been in this position." During a telephonic conversation with representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration Riverside Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), the pilot said he heard a "pop" and a "bang" during the takeoff from the clearing. He said he thought it may have been a rock hitting the airplane and he throttled back on the engine. He told FSDO investigators that to his knowledge, there was no problem with the engine but he couldn't be sure because he was not looking at his instrument panel when this was going on. The pilot's father disconnected the battery at the request of the fire department personnel on scene and reportedly drained approximately 18 gallons of fuel from the airplane. Numerous attempts were made to verify the purchase of fuel at the landfill, but investigators were unable to do so. On May 23, 2000, the engine was prepped by repairing an oil leak in the oil filter system, due to the contact with the ground during the accident sequence. The engine started normally, three times, and had good throttle response and normal oil pressure. Representatives of Teledyne Continental Motors and the Riverside FSDO witnessed the engine run. At the completion of the engine run on May 23, 2000, the airplane was released to the insurance company representing the registered owner. ## Aircraft - Registration: N7354A (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29454 - Airframe hours: 3409 - Engines: Continental 0300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald L. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1999, 55 hours before - Departed: KGYR, GOODYEAR, AZ - Destination: KSNA, SANTA ANA, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 121 total, 115 in this make and model, 74 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ONT, 15 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 20000325011729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000325011729A), Mar 25, 2000: Cessna 172, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot chose to land a/c in dirt field. Pilot decided to take off after fog had lifted. His attempt was unsuccessful and eventually wound up running into… 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.