Cessna 172N accident near San Clemente, CA
On December 25, 2001, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Clemente, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 25, 2001
- Place
- San Clemente, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.342°N, 117.527°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020103X00014
Official records · LAX02FA056
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 25, 2001, at 1503 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172N, N738BC, lost engine power and ditched in the Pacific Ocean about 1/4-mile offshore from San Clemente, California. Security Aviation was operating the rental airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, one passenger sustained fatal injuries, and one passenger is missing and presumed to be deceased. The airplane was destroyed. The personal cross-country flight departed McClellen/Palomar Field (CRQ), Carlsbad, California, at 1449, en route to Hawthorne (HHR), California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The primary wreckage was at 33 degrees 20.02 minutes north latitude and 117 degrees 30.26 minutes west longitude. The Hawthorne based operator reported that the pilot scheduled the airplane for a flight on Tuesday, December 25, between the hours of 1000 and 1400. The pilot came in on Monday to get the keys. The National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. The pilot stated that he had flown this route frequently. He experienced no problems with the airplane or engine on the flight from Hawthorne to Palomar. He stayed on the ground at Palomar about 1 hour. On the way to Palomar, the pilot stated that he had the right tank selected; however, when he set up for landing, he placed the fuel selector in the "BOTH" position. He left it there through landing and takeoff, and had not moved the fuel selector at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he comp
Probable cause
a loss of engine power due to a loss of magneto to engine timing resulting from stress corrosion crack induced fracture, and separation of the magneto impulse coupling spring.
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Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
