# NTSB LAX94LA277: Cessna 172, N61569, Hanford, CA, July 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 6, 1994, 21:12 local (Jul 7, 1994, 04:12 UTC) - Place: Hanford, CA - Location: 36.3281° N, 119.6548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hanford, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3281&lon=-119.6548&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28792 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28792/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA277 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Overrun, takeoff - aborted - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - fence - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61569-2003-10-25), registration cancelled 2003-10-25, S/N 17264647, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - 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: 17264647 - Airframe hours: 5400 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940706017609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940706017609A), Jul 6, 1994: Cessna 172P, Hanford, CA, Substantial damage. Reported power loss on takeoff. Aborted. Overran runway through a fence. No anomalies found. ## Other investigations on N61569 (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX02LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA182), Jun 4, 2002: Cessna 172M (N61569), Mountain Ranch, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his in-flight planning/decision resulting in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. 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.