- Date
- July 6, 1994, 21:12 local (Jul 7, 1994, 04:12 UTC)
- Place
- Hanford, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N61569Cessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940706017609A
- Case key
- 28792
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to stop the aircraft in a timely manner after landing back on the runway following a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft departed and obtained an altitude between 5 and 10 feet when the pilot reported a loss of engine power. The pilot landed back on the runway, but was unable to stop on the remaining runway and proceeded for 1,500 feet before colliding with a fence. He reported no mechanical problems. A fuel analysis revealed no fuel contamination nor improper fuel grade.
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1994, at 2112 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172, N61569, collided with a fence at the Hanford Municipal airport in Hanford, California, during an attempted takeoff. The aircraft skidded about 1,500 feet before it came to rest on a median next to Highway 198. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated as a business flight from Hanford to Selma, California.
The pilot reported that on takeoff from runway 32, at an altitude between 5 and 10 feet, the engine began losing power. He reduced power and landed back on the runway. The aircraft was unable to stop on the remaining runway and collided with the fence. The pilot reported no mechanical problems. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review of the engine logbooks indicated no mechanical problems with the engine or any indication of engine damage from fuel detonation during previous inspections.
A fuel sample from the aircraft was analyzed by Saybolt Inc. of Martinez, CA. The fuel was normal for an 80 octane fuel except for a higher octane and lead content. This was attributed to a mix of 80 octane and 100LL fuels.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N61569
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17264647
- Airframe hours
- 5,400
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Alyde Aircraft, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Alyde Aircraft, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 25, 1994 · 40 hours before
- Destination
- 0Q4 · Selma, CA
- Airport
- D18 · Hanford Municipal Airport, runway 32, 3,962 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 100 total · 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 310° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NLC
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N61569 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.