# NTSB LAX04LA060: Cessna 172S, N396TA, Watsonville, CA, December 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 6, 2003, 16:42 local (Dec 7, 2003, 00:42 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.949443, -121.803611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9494&lon=-121.8036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Cessna Aircraft Co., Federal Aviation Administration, Textron Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 58457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58457/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA060 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - muddy ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a muddy field following a total loss of engine power. The pilot was en route to Monterey at 2,400 feet mean sea level (msl), in instrument meteorological conditions, when the engine lost power and failed to restart after three attempts. The pilot stated that he had 10 gallons of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks. The airplane remained inverted in the field for a period of time due to the muddy conditions that made access and recovery very difficult. After recovery of the aircraft, 4 gallons of fuel was found in the right tank and 1.75 gallons were in the left tank. The fuel selector was positioned to the "Both" position and fuel was found in all components of the fuel system. Examination of the engine revealed no condition that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative On December 6, 2003, about 1642 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172S, N396TA, nosed over during a forced landing in a field about 4 miles south of Watsonville, California, after experiencing a total loss of engine power. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and an instrument flight plan had been filed. The personal flight originated at San Martin, California, at 1622, destined for Monterey, California. The pilot reported that he was en route to Monterey, at 2,400 feet mean sea level (msl). He was in instrument meteorological conditions when the air speed, rate of climb, and altimeter became erratic, and the electrical system went off-line for a second, followed by a rough running engine. The engine quit and failed to restart after three attempts. The pilot stated that icing was not an issue and "the temperature was 6" and he did turn on the pitot heat. He said he had 10 gallons of fuel in the right and left fuel tanks. Approach control vectored the pilot towards the nearest airport at Watsonville. The pilot said he entered visual conditions about 1,800 feet mean sea level, but was unable to reach Watsonville and landed in a soft muddy field and rolled inverted. The airplane remained inverted in the field for a period of time due to the muddy conditions that made recovery difficult. After recovery 4 gallons of fuel was recovered from the left fuel tank and about 1.75 in the right tank. Fuel was found in all components of the fuel system. The fuel selector was found in the "both" position. The emergency fuel cutoff was found in the off/closed position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N396TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N396TA), registered now, S/N 172S9396, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172S - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9396 - Airframe hours: 108 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven Paul Timmons - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2003, 8 hours before - Departed: Q99, San Martin, CA - Destination: MRY, Monterey, CA - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 219 total, 193 in this make and model, 147 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft overcast - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: WVI, 10 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 20031206032329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031206032329A), Dec 6, 2003: Cessna 172S, Watsonville, CA, Destroyed. (-23) N396TA was on an IFR flight plan from Q99 to mry. At 2400 ft., on vectors for an ILS approach, while in and out of clouds, the pilot stated that his… 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.