# NTSB LAX84LA486: Cessna 414A, N2700S, Carlsbad, CA, September 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1984, 06:44 local (13:44 UTC)
- Place: Carlsbad, CA
- Coordinates: 33.129962, -117.299346 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1300&lon=-117.2993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA486
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA486

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - roll/run
  - fluid,oil grade - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, fbo personnel (cause)
  - fatigue(ground schedule), fbo personnel (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, fbo personnel (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - attempted, pilot in command
  - relinquishing of control - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - propeller feathering - selected, copilot/second pilot
  - emergency procedure - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling
  - weather condition - fog
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Ditching, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS ON IFR DEPARTURE IN MINIMAL WEATHER CONDITIONS.ON TAKEOFF ROLL, A PWR LOSS OCCURRED ON THE RT ENG AND THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RT. PIC (OWNER) IN LEFT SEAT INITIATED ABORTED TAKEOFF, BUT RT SEAT PLT TOOK CONTROL, CONTINUED TAKEOFF AND FEATHERED THE RT PROP. BOTH PLTS OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE ENGS ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDES, BOTH THOUGHT LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED. (INVESTIGATION REVEALED LANDING GEAR WAS DOWN.) ACFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT, PLTS ELECTED TO DITCH IN OCEAN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ACFT HAD BEEN SERVICED WITH 147 GALS OF JET FUEL INSTEAD OF AVGAS AT 0445 HRS BY A FBO LINEMAN. THE LINEMAN HAD 3 WEEKS TTL EXPERIENCE, 1 1/2 HRS VIDEO TAPE TRAINING AND WAS WORKING 2 JOBS 7 DAYS PER WEEK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2700S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2700S-2014-09-25), registration cancelled 2014-09-25, S/N 414A0607, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 414A
- Registry model: [Cessna 414A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414a) (registry code 2075907) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 414A
- Airframe hours: 1056
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-NB 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John K. Micuda
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 18, 1984, 6 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CRQ, Mcclellan Palomar, runway 24, 4,700 × 150 ft, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,565 total, 173 in this make and model, 1,431 as pilot in command, 53 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Lowest ceiling: 100 ft
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAN, 4 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 19840920049879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840920049879A), Sep 20, 1984: Cessna 414A, Carlsbad, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft lost power on takeoff, ditched in ocean. Aircraft had been serviced with 147 gallons of jet a fuel.

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.

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