# NTSB WPR20LA009: Cessna 206, N11379, Stockton, CA, October 18, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 17, 2019, 18:00 local (Oct 18, 2019, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Stockton, CA
- Coordinates: 37.895557, -121.259445
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8956&lon=-121.2594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100464
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100464/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100464
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA009

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=2073301), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2073301), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073301), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna 206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073301), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 206H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073301), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were departing on a flight to practice instrument approaches. About 150 ft above ground level (agl), the engine “surged” then “smoothed out.” The airplane continued to climb, but the pilots elected to conduct a precautionary landing. The pilot continued the climb and made a left turn for the traffic pattern. During the turn, the engine lost total power at 380 ft agl and the instructor took control of the airplane. He landed the airplane in an empty lot; the airplane continued through a perimeter fence and impacted a semi-trailer parked along an adjacent roadway. The airplane came to rest nose down against the fence and semi-trailer, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and forward fuselage. The postaccident airframe and engine examination revealed low fuel pressure at the fuel injectors into the cylinders. The electric fuel pump tested normally; however, low fuel pressure was noted exiting the fuel servo. The fuel servo was removed and functionally tested. The fuel flow tested slightly below manufacturer’s specifications; however, it still would have provided adequate fuel for normal operation. A teardown of the fuel servo’s metering section did not reveal any anomalies. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On October 17, 2019, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 206H airplane, N11379, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stockton, California. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice instrument approaches. After a thorough preflight and engine run-up, the pilot took off from runway 29L. About 150 feet above the ground, the engine “surged” then “smoothed out.” The airplane continued to climb, but the pilots elected to conduct a precautionary landing. The pilot continued the climb and made a left turn for the traffic pattern. During the turn, the engine lost total power at 380 feet above the ground and the instructor took control of the airplane. He landed the airplane in an empty lot; the airplane continued through a perimeter fence and impacted a semi-trailer parked along an adjacent roadway. The airplane came to rest nose down against the fence and semi-trailer. The left wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident engine examination by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no visual indications of catastrophic engine failure. The ignition leads were inspected and produced spark with normal impulse coupling operation. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited signatures consistent with a rich/low power condition. The rocker covers were removed. When the propeller was rotated, valve train continuity was established throughout, and thumb compression was established on all cylinders. The electric fuel pump was turned on and low fuel pressure was noted at fuel injectors to the cylinder heads. The fuel line between the fuel servo and the fuel distributor was removed and low fuel pressure was noted. The fuel pump was tested, and fuel pumped normally to the inlet of the fuel servo. The fuel servo was removed from the engine for an operational test and teardown. After a visual examination, it was installed onto a test stand and operated slightly below manufacturer’s specifications. The fuel servo was removed from the test stand and the fuel screen was removed; no debris was present. Disassembly of the metering section did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A Lycoming representative reported that, although the fuel flow was slightly below specifications, the engine still would have had adequate fuel to operate normally.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N11379](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11379), registered now, S/N 20608077, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 206 (H)
- Registry model: [Cessna 206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-206h) (registry code 2073301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20608077
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 5513
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: County Of San Joaquin
- Registered owner: County Of San Joaquin
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 2019, 12 hours before
- Departed: SCK, Stockton, CA
- Destination: SCK, Stockton, CA
- Airport: SCK, Stockton Metropolitan Airport, runway 29L, 4,448 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 22, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 206 total, 9 in this make and model, 82 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,176 total, 453 in this make and model, 2,095 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KSCK

## 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 20191017020159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191017020159A), Oct 17, 2019: Cessna 206H, Stockton, CA, Substantial damage. After a thorough pre-departure check, the CFI and PIC received ATC clearance for departure. PIC and CFI departed to conduct instrument currency and approach…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100464. 20.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 14.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8701817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of email - FAA engine examination observations (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13153186&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20FAA%20Engine%20Exam-Rel.pdf
- Fuel servo examination (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13640144&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fuel%20servo%20run%20and%20teardown-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - Lycoming representative (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13701425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20lycoming-Rel.pdf
- Evidence control form - fuel servo (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13712213&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20Fuel%20Servo-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13152974&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20final%20FINAL%20REDACTED%20REDACTED-Rel.pdf
- On scene photos - courtesy of local law enforcement (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13152744&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photos-Rel.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.

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