# NTSB LAX01LA062: Cessna 177RG, N2102Q, San Carlos, CA, December 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 2000, 15:56 local (23:56 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA - Coordinates: 37.489559, -122.259544 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4896&lon=-122.2595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FLT STANDARDS DIST OFC - NTSB case key (mKey): 50824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50824/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA062 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during an extended downwind leg in the landing pattern. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - muddy (cause) ## Analysis While on an extended downwind for landing the airplane experienced a power failure after throttle was applied. The pilot executed the prelanding and an emergency checklist. Engine power was not restored. According to the same account, the pilot turned the fuel selector to the "off" position before the forced landing was made in the slough west of the airport. The nose wheel was caught in the rough terain and the airplane came to rest inverted. Fuel was added before the flight and post crash examination revealed the tanks carried a supply 1 inch below the tabs. The airplane was successfully started after it was righted and ran roughly. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 2000, at 1556 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N2102Q, lost power and landed short of the runway while on approach to San Carlos Airport, San Carlos, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage; however, the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a supervised solo instructional flight by the pilot/owner under 14 CFR Part 91. The return leg of a round-robin flight to the Tracy airport, Tracy, California, originated about 1526. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he had flown to the Tracy airport to practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On his return leg, he had reached the traffic pattern at San Carlos, when the tower operator asked him to extend his downwind. He said that he slowed in order to maintain spacing by reducing power; however, when he reapplied the throttle the engine quit. He made a forced landing in the Belmont slough, about 1.5 miles from the end of the runway. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in shallow water. The FAA inspector reported the throttle, mixture, and propeller was found in the full forward position. The fuel selector was found in the "off" position. There were no anomalies reported with any of the engine controls, cable, or linkages. The pilot stated that the airplane had been filled with aviation fuel prior to his departure from San Carlos en route to Tracy. Recovery personnel reported that although the airplane was inverted and slowly losing fuel when they arrived, the fuel level was found to be within an inch of the tabs in both tanks. After recovery, the airplane was righted and the engine was supplied with fuel and electrical power. The engine was then successfully started and ran roughly after about 45 minutes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2102Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2102Q-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N 177RG0502, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 177RG - Registry model: [Cessna 177RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-177rg) (registry code 2073709) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1B6D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1b6d) (registry code 41593, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 177RG0502 - Engines: Lycoming Io-360-A1B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Anthony Rebholtz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2000 - Departed: TCY, TRACY, CA - Destination: SQL, San Carlos, CA - Airport: SQL, San Carlos, runway 12, 2,600 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 65 in this make and model, 29 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SQL ## 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 20001221029459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001221029459A), Dec 21, 2000: Cessna 177RG, San Carlos, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Michael rebholtz the owner and pilot of N2102Q entered a left downwind for runway 12 at San Carlos Airport in San Carlos, CA. He was instructed to… 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.