# NTSB LAX06CA115: Cessna 172M, N80859, Murrieta, CA, February 14, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 14, 2006, 11:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Murrieta, CA - Coordinates: 33.574165, -117.128334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5742&lon=-117.1283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63235/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA115 ## Probable cause a partial loss of engine power resulting from the student pilot's mismanagement of the mixture control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - mixture - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane landed hard in a field adjacent to the airport during an attempted takeoff. The purpose of the solo flight was for the student pilot to perform practice touch-and-go takeoff and landings. After completing a normal takeoff, he continued around the traffic pattern and then preformed a normal landing. During the landing rollout he retracted the flaps, input full throttle, and pushed the mixture control partially forward, leaving it out about 7/8 inch. The airplane lifted off the runway surface and climbed to about 50 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), with an airspeed of about 60 knots. The airplane was not able to maintain the airspeed and the student pilot thought the engine was only producing partial power. While performing a precautionary landing in an open field the airplane landed hard. Post accident examinations by both the operator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no evidence of engine or airframe anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector stated that the signatures on the spark plugs indicated a very lean condition. An engine run was conducted the day following accident and the FAA inspector ran the engine noting no discrepancies. ## Factual narrative The airplane landed hard in a field adjacent to the airport during an attempted takeoff. The purpose of the solo flight was for the student pilot to perform practice touch-and-go takeoff and landings. After completing a normal takeoff, he continued around the traffic pattern and then preformed a normal landing. During the landing rollout he retracted the flaps, input full throttle, and pushed the mixture control partially forward, leaving it out about 7/8 inch. The airplane lifted off the runway surface and climbed to about 50 to 100 feet above ground level (agl), with an airspeed of about 60 knots. The airplane was not able to maintain the airspeed and the student pilot thought the engine was only producing partial power. He opted to perform a precautionary landing in an open field adjacent to the runway. The airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear broke off. Damage to the airplane included the left main landing gear, firewall, and underside of right wing. Post accident examinations by both the operator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no evidence of engine or airframe anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The FAA inspector stated that the signatures on the spark plugs indicated a very lean condition. An engine run was conducted the day following accident and the FAA inspector attempted to power the engine to about 2,000 revolutions per minute (rpm); he did not want to apply full power due to the instability of the airplane from the damaged left main landing gear. The engine ran normally with no discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N80859](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N80859-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N 17266776, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 66776 - Engines: Textron Lycoming O-320-E2D reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: French Valley Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: D&L Aircraft Acquisition, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: F70, Murrieta, CA - Destination: F70, Murrieta, CA - Airport: F70, French Valley Airport, runway 18, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; student; medical: class 1; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 55 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 19 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 20060214003169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060214003169A), Feb 14, 2006: Cessna 172M, Murrieta/Temecu, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman was accomplishing touch and goes, take off was normal but shortly after takeoff 50 to 100 feet AGL aircraft failed to climb, aircraft would not… 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.