# NTSB LAX06CA079: Cessna 152, N49391, Rancho Murieta, CA, January 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 4, 2006, 09:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Rancho Murieta, CA - Coordinates: 38.486946, -121.102218 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4869&lon=-121.1022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA079 ## Probable cause fuel contamination (water) due to the inadequate preflight by both pilots, which failed to detect the residual water contamination in fuel system. A factor in the accident was the soft terrain condition at the forced landing site. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, go-around (vfr) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, flightcrew (cause) - fluid,fuel - contamination,water (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a muddy field after a loss of engine power. The instructor stated they were completing a flight review for the pilot at the time of the accident. After the airplane was fueled the instructor sumped the tanks and found water in the right wing. The pilot told the instructor that during the preflight he also found water in the sump. The instructor sumped the tanks 3 or 4 times until there was no water in the samples. Both pilots were then confident there was no more water in the fuel tanks and they proceeded with the flight. After a simulated engine failure the pilot applied full throttle to go around. About 400 feet mean sea level on climb out, the engine lost power and the instructor took the controls to make an emergency landing. A soft muddy field was the only place available that the airplane could glide to and the instructor performed a soft field landing, but the nose gear dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine and fuel system was conducted after the accident. Water was found in the gascolator and carburetor bowl. A fuel supply was plumbed into the wing root fuel line and the engine was started on the first attempt. The engine was stopped and started again with no anomalies found. ## Factual narrative On January 4, 2005, about 0950 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 152, N49391, lost engine power and nosed over on landing near Rancho Murieta, California. Sky Walk, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional flight departed Sacramento, California, about 0915, with a planned destination of Rancho Murieta. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board the CFI stated they were completing a flight review for the PUI at the time of the accident. Both pilots taxied to the fuel pumps to top off the airplane's fuel tanks. After they fueled the CFI sumped the tanks and found water in the right wing. The PUI told her during the preflight he found water in the sump also. She sumped the tanks 3-4 times until there was no water. Both pilots were confident there was no more water in the fuel tanks and they proceeded with the flight. After a simulated engine failure the PUI applied full throttle to go around. On climb out, about 400 feet mean sea level (msl), the airplane lost power and the CFI took the controls to make an emergency landing. She chose a soft muddy field next to the runway to perform a soft field landing; however, the nose gear dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over. The CFI and PUI exited the airplane and later returned to secure it after they saw no danger of the airplane catching fire. With the assistance of a representative from the engine manufacturer a post accident engine examination was conducted. He found water in the gascolator and carburetor. He added fuel to the wing to fuselage fuel line and ran the engine. There were no anomalies noted. The engine was stopped and started again with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49391](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49391-2006-05-01), registration cancelled 2006-05-01, S/N 15283452, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283452 - Airframe hours: 6285.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky Walk, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2005 - Departed: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA - Destination: RIU, RANCHO MURIETA, CA - Airport: RIU, Rancho Murieta ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 879 total, 266 in this make and model, 669 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 129 total, 50 in this make and model, 48 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: KSAC ## 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 20060104000219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060104000219A), Jan 4, 2006: Cessna 152, Rancho Murieta, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N49391 was being operated by flight instructor [privacy data omitted] and private pilot [privacy data omitted] on a FAR part 61 flight review.… 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.