Aviation Crash Map

Cessna 172M N13620

23 March 1994 · Santa Maria, California, United States · Minor injuries

Summary

On 23 March 1994 at about 23:30 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N13620, operated by Horizon Aviation, was involved in an accident near Santa Maria, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 23:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Santa Maria, California, United States
Coordinates
34.8209, -120.4108
Aircraft
Cessna 172M
Registration
N13620
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Horizon Aviation
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Santa Barbara → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Destroyed
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX94LA173

People

2 people had minor injuries.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
2 0 0 2 0

Probable cause

AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND SERVICE OF AN INCORRECT MODEL MAGNETO BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO FOLLOW PUBLISHED AIRPLANE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER AND COLLIDED WITH TREES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED THE LOSS OF POWER WAS GRADUAL WITH ENGINE ROUGHNESS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE BUT DID NOT MANIPULATE THE MAGNETO SWITCH AS OUTLINED IN THE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK AMPLIFIED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE MAGNETOS REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO INTERNAL TIMING WAS INCORRECT. THE BREAKER POINT CAM AND CAM FOLLOWER WERE FOUND WORN. A SLICK MODEL 4201-R MAGNETO IS NOT AN APPROVED INSTALLATION ON LYCOMING ENGINES. MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT SHOW THAT NEW OR OVERHAULED MAGNETOS WERE INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE OVERHAUL OR REPLACED AFTER THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED. REVIEW OF THE ENGINE LOGBOOK INDICATED THE MAGNETO TIMING WAS ADJUSTED ABOUT 78 FLIGHT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AT THE LAST 100-HOUR INSPECTION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna 172 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
26 Jun 1994 Cessna 172N
N5183E
Lambertville, Michigan, United States Davis College Minor injuries -
21 Jul 1994 Cessna 172N
N76090
Chatham, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
29 Apr 1994 Cessna 172P
N53161
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States Eagle Flight Center, Inc. No injuries -
1 Jul 1994 Cessna 172B
N7472X
Shiocton, Wisconsin, United States - Serious injuries -
26 Jul 1994 Cessna 172A
N5647A
Block Island, Rhode Island, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
29 May 1994 Cessna 172M
N30608
Lookout Pass, Idaho, United States St. Maries CAP Aero Club Serious injuries -

All 12,209 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
17 Sep 1994 Piper PA-28R-201
N30150
Fort Bragg, California, United States Sundance Flying Club Serious injuries -
12 May 1994 Schweizer G-164B
N8214S
Yuba City, California, United States
no coordinates
Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. No injuries -
3 Sep 1994 Cessna T210L
N732DT
Kettleman City, California, United States Willie Alves Rodrigues No injuries -
13 May 1994 Maule M-5-235C
N711CX
Columbia, California, United States White, James L. No injuries -
19 May 1994 Cessna 150L
N6747G
Rio Linda, California, United States Hinckley, Thomas, F. Serious injuries -
23 Sep 1994 Robinson R-22
N4001B
Chico, California, United States Sierra Aviation No injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States