Cessna 172N accident near San Rafael, CA
On July 9, 2023, a Cessna 172N (airplane) was involved in an accident near San Rafael, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 9, 2023
- Place
- San Rafael, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.021°N, 122.515°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230709192562
Official records · WPR23FA258
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 8, 2023, at 2201 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna C172N, N4922G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near San Rafael, California. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane departed San Rafael Airport (CA35), San Rafael, California, about 1000 and arrived at Silver Springs Airport (SPZ), Silver Springs, Nevada, at 1150. According to the pilot, he intended on refueling the airplane at SPZ before returning to CA35. Fuel was available at SPZ; however, airport personnel were not available to operate the necessary equipment to refuel the airplane. The pilot subsequently departed from SPZ about 1900 and flew to Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV), Minden, Nevada, about 1930, where the pilot purchased 22.63 gallons of 100 Low Lead (LL) fuel using the self-service fuel pump. According to the pilot and ADS-B flight track data, the airplane departed from MEV at 2000 and circled over MEV as it climbed from 4,600 ft mean sea level (msl) to about 12,500 ft msl in order to clear rising terrain before proceeding direct to CA35. The pilot stated he remained at altitude as long as possible before starting an enroute descent about 65 miles northeast of CA35. The airplane maintained 90-110 knots during the descent on a heading of about 240° until about 2159. During the remainder of the flight the airplane continue to slow and descend, with the airplane slowing to 43 knots at 500 ft at 2200:17. The airplane continued to d
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing as a result of the pilot’s failure to activate the carburetor heat in a timely manner during the descent.
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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.
