# NTSB WPR20LA126: Cessna 152, N6306P, Corona, CA, April 19, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 19, 2020, 10:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: Corona, CA - Coordinates: 33.891944, -117.601387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8919&lon=-117.6014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 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): 101177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101177/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101177 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA126 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to use carburetor heat while operating in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ice/rain protection system: intake anti-ice, deice](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023020/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern crosswind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2071835), [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 152, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 152, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger were conducting touch-and-go landings and had just turned crosswind when the pilot stated, "oh we are going down." The passenger, who was occupied with an electronic device, looked up and within about 10 seconds they impacted terrain and came to rest upside down on a roadway. Due to noise cancelling headphones, the passenger did not hear the engine quit, nor did he hear it make any abnormal noises or sputters. The pilot did not recall the accident flight. Postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine; however, the fuel system was compromised due to damage which prevented a full evaluation. The carburetor heat control was found in the OFF position. The pilot recently purchased the airplane as a wreck with the intention to rebuild and sell it. The airplane needed extensive work and had flown a total of four short flights since it was rebuilt. He recently found water in the fuel system after a storm. After sumping the entire fuel system and carburetor, he discovered that the fuel tank filler neck screws were too small. After replacing the screws, more storms passed through the area. He did not sump the fuel system prior to the accident flight. Neither the pilot nor passenger performed a preflight inspection, because both thought the other was going to conduct the inspection. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing. The pilot reported that he does not often use the carburetor heat. Despite the airplane being recently rebuilt and recent history of water in the fuel system, the postaccident engine examination only found about one thimble of water in the fuel strainer, which would not be enough to cause a rough running engine. Although no preflight was conducted and a full evaluation of the fuel system could not be conducted, it is likely the engine lost power due to carburetor icing because the pilot did not use carburetor heat during flight in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2020, about 1040 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 152 airplane N6306P, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Corona, California. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The passenger reported he left the airplane before the flight for a period of time and did not see the pilot perform a preflight inspection before the pilot started and taxied uneventfully. He recalled a runup was conducted and no anomalies were noted. The airplane took off and made left turns around the traffic pattern, it touched down onto the runway surface and took off again. Shortly after turning onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern the pilot stated, "oh we are going down". The passenger, who was managing Foreflight on his tablet, looked up confused and, within about 10 seconds, they impacted something and came to rest upside down on a roadway. Due to noise cancelling headphones, he did not hear the engine quit nor did he hear it make any abnormal noises or sputters. The pilot/owner reported that he only recalls about 3 seconds of the accident flight. He recalls being in a right turn then he felt his body being forced about. He recently purchased the airplane as a wreck with the intention to rebuild and sell it. The airplane needed extensive work and has flown a total of four short flights since it was rebuilt. He mentioned that he recently found quite a bit of water in the fuel system after a storm came through. After sumping the entire fuel system and carburetor, he discovered that the fuel tank filler neck screws were too small. After replacing the screws, more storms passed through the area. He did not sump the fuel system prior to the accident flight and recalled asking the passenger to conduct the preflight inspection. According to the Federal Aviation Administration carburetor icing chart, the temperature/dewpoint spread at the time of the accident was on the border of serious icing conditions at glide power and serious icing conditions at cruise power. When asked, the pilot reported that he does not often use the carburetor heat. Postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine. The engine was rotated by hand and thumb compression was established on all cylinders. The magnetos were rotated, and spark was produced throughout. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited signatures consistent with normal operations. Air was blown through the fuel system and all lines were clear of debris. The carburetor bowl was mostly fractured from the carburetor; the bowl was empty, and the floats were clear of liquid. The fuel strainer was removed and about a thimble of water was found in the bowl. The throttle and mixture were observed full forward and the carburetor heat control was found in the OFF position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6306P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6306P-2020-08-02), registration cancelled 2020-08-02, S/N 15284997, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284997 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 7975 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 117 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2018 - Departed: AJO, Corona, CA - Destination: AJO, Corona, CA - Airport: AJO, Corona Municipal Airport, runway 7/25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: AJO, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200419004879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200419004879A), Apr 19, 2020: Cessna 152, Corona, CA, Substantial damage. N6306P, a Cessna 152, made an emergency landing on a service road approximately one quarter of a mile west of Corona Municipal Airport. There were two people… ## Other investigations on N6306P (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 GAA19CA390](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA390), Jul 2, 2019: Cessna 152 (N6306P), Tracy, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a vehicle. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101177. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 999 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9888050&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot/owner/mechanic (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9887601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=roc%20pilot%20owner%20mech-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - passenger (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9721391&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20PAX-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - FAA regarding postaccident engine examination (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9888247&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20Update-Rel.pdf - On scene photos (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9720603&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. --- 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.