- Date
- November 3, 1995, 21:10 local (Nov 4, 1995, 05:10 UTC)
- Place
- Redwood City, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N316HGCessna 402B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report March 21, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951103035929A
- Case key
- 29333
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 simultaneous total 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 experienced a total loss of engine power while on final approach and the pilot performed a forced landing in a marsh short of the airport. FAA inspectors found the main fuel tanks 3/4 full and the auxiliary and wing locker fuel tanks empty. The pilot reported that as he was descending through 1,200 feet MSL on final approach he placed the electric fuel pumps on low and within a few seconds heard a backfire and lost power on both engines. He verified engine fuel mixture controls and fuel tank selector for proper position and then executed an off-airport forced landing. FAA inspectors determined the pilot's biennial flight review was 6 months past due.
Factual narrative
On November 3, 1995, about 2110 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 402B, N316HG, experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed into a marsh in Redwood City, California. The airplane was on final approach to runway 30 at the San Carlos Airport when both engines lost power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The personal flight originated from Compton, California, about 1915.
Examination of the airplane by inspectors from the FAA's San Jose Flight Standards District Office the morning after the accident revealed that the two wing locker fuel tanks and the two auxiliary fuel tanks were empty. The two main fuel tanks were approximately 3/4 full. The fuel tank selector controls were in the "off" positions. The inspectors also determined that the pilot's biennial flight review was 6 months past due.
In his report to the NTSB the pilot stated that the aircraft was serviced before departure and had 140 gallons fuel aboard for the 1 hour 55 minute flight. The engines were fed from their respective main tanks for all but 20 minutes in the mid-portion of the flight when they were fed from their respective auxiliary tanks. He stated that when he reduced power on a 5-mile final approach he noted the engines running rough, but was able to restore smooth power with full rich mixture. Descending through 1,200 feet msl on final approach he placed the electric fuel pumps on low and within a few seconds heard a backfire and lost power on both engines. He verified engine fuel mixture controls and fuel tank selectors for proper position and then executed an off-airport forced landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N316HG
- Reported as
- Cessna 402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B0016
- Airframe hours
- 3,511
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-EB, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald A. Torres
- Registered owner
- Heriberto Gomez, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 4, 1994 · 212 hours before
- Departed
- CPM · Compton, CA
- Destination
- SQL · San Carlos, CA
- Airport
- SQL · San Carlos, runway 30, 2,600 × 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
- 34
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,969 total · 400 in this make and model · 3,562 as pilot in command · 72 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SQL, 1 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.