# NTSB WPR12LA253: Cessna 172B, N7458X, San Andreas, CA, June 9, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2012, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: San Andreas, CA - Coordinates: 38.146667, -120.64833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1467&lon=-120.6483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83905/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83905 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA253 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power in cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 172B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2072406), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 4,000 feet mean sea level when the engine suddenly stopped producing power. He attempted to glide the airplane to a nearby airport, but he landed the airplane in uneven terrain near the airport boundary. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2012, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172B, N7458X, made an off-airport forced landing near San Andreas, California. Springfield Flying Service LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage from impact forces. The local sightseeing flight departed Columbia, California, about 1050. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl) when the engine suddenly stopped producing power. He attempted to glide to a nearby airport, but landed in uneven terrain near the airport boundary. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge oversaw examination of the wreckage. A detailed report is part of the public docket for this accident. The fuel tank vents were clear. The gascolator screen and bowl were clean, and the bowl was full of a light blue fluid that smelled like aviation gasoline. The fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor was pulled out of the carburetor with the filter screen still attached; the screen was clean. Moving the fuel selector valve from the off to open positions resulted in fluid flowing out of the line. The crankshaft rotated freely when manually rotated using the propeller. Thumb compression was obtained on all cylinders in firing order. All spark plug electrodes were clean with no mechanical deformation. Spark was observed at 11 of the 12 ignition leads when manually rotating the magnetos. The carburetor sustained crush damage, and separated from the engine. No anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7458X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7458X-2013-01-14), registration cancelled 2013-01-14, S/N 17247958, built 1960 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B - Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17247958 - Airframe hours: 6262 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-300 SER 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Springfield Flying Service LLC - Registered owner: Springfield Flying Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 2012 - Departed: 022, Columbia, CA - Destination: 022, Columbia, CA - Airport: KCPU, Calaveras County - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2010; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 6,573 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 6,440 as pilot in command, 204 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: K022, 13 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 20120609011539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120609011539A), Jun 9, 2012: Cessna 172B, San Andreas, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on scenic flight when engine failed. Aircraft was 4000 feet and 3 miles from calaveras county airport (kcpu). Pilot force landed in a field 200… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83905. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - NTSB Examination Notes (item 3, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Examination%20Notes-Master.PDF 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.