# NTSB LAX08LA206: Cessna 172N, N6360D, El Cajon, CA, June 26, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2008, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: El Cajon, CA - Coordinates: 32.95, -116.966667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9500&lon=-116.9667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68356 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68356/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA206 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice resulting from the flight instructor's failure to use the carburetor heat when simulating an engine failure. Contributing to the accident were the carburetor icing weather condition and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a dual instructional flight, while over a reservoir, the certified flight instructor (CFI) simulated an engine failure by retarding the throttle. After about 1 minute of procedures at idle, the CFI applied power, but the engine did not respond. The CFI performed a forced landing to a field on a ranch. During landing, the left wing tip struck the ground, and the left wing sustained structural damage. The engine operated normally during a post accident test run. The temperature and dew point at the nearest reporting point about 6 nautical miles from the accident site near the time of the accident were recorded as 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Plotting these values on a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the airplane was operating in the range for serious icing at glide power. According to the operator, the CFI did not apply carburetor heat prior to retarding the throttle during the simulated engine failure. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2008, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N6360D, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing near El Cajon, California. California Flight Academy was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as an instructional flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Gillespie Field Airport, El Cajon, about 1530, on a local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the CFI, while over San Vicente Reservoir, he simulated an engine failure by retarding the throttle. After "1 minute of procedures," the CFI applied power but the engine did not respond. The CFI performed a forced landing to a field on a ranch. During landing, the left wing tip struck the ground, and the left wing sustained structural damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The inspector observed fuel in both tanks and in the gascolator. The engine oil level was at 7 quarts, and the air filter was not obstructed. The wings were removed and the airplane was recovered to the operator's hangar at Gillespie Field. On July 10, 2008, an FAA inspector observed a test run of the engine. Fuel was supplied to the engine by means of a line leading from a bucket directly to the gascolator. The engine started and idled normally. Power was increased to 1800 rpm, and the carburetor heat was applied and found to operate normally. Power was further increased to 2000 rpm and the engine was then shutdown by moving the mixture control to the idle cutoff position. The temperature and dew point at Gillespie Field at 1647 were recorded as 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Plotting these values on a carburetor icing probability chart indicated that the airplane was operating in the range for serious icing at glide power. According to the operator, the CFI did not apply carburetor heat prior to retarding the throttle during the simulated engine failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6360D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6360D-2010-03-12), registration cancelled 2010-03-12, S/N 17272746, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272746 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: California Flight Academy - Registered owner: Fly CFA LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: SEE, El Cajon, CA - Airport: KSEE, Gillespie Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 80 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SEE, 6 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 20080626839859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080626839859A), Jun 26, 2008: Cessna 172N, Substantial damage. (-23)On June 26, 2008, a Cessna 172N, N6360D, experienced a loss of engine power and made a forced landing near el cajon, California. California flight academy… 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.