Cessna 172S N222MF

Summary

On 24 June 2011 at about 03:21 local time, a Cessna 172S registered N222MF, operated by Advanced Flyers, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 June 2011 at 03:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (PAO)

Coordinates

37.4611, -122.1150

Aircraft

Cessna 172S

Registration

N222MF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Advanced Flyers

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concord → Palo Alto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA284

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the landing approach over unsuitable terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following an uneventful flight, the pilot entered the airport traffic pattern midfield for his intended runway. While turning from the base leg to the final leg of the pattern, he decided that the airplane was slightly low and advanced the throttle forward; the engine did not respond, and the airplane’s descent rate continued. The pilot then realized that the engine had lost power. He immediately began troubleshooting the loss of engine power and continued toward the runway. Attempts to start the engine were unsuccessful and, realizing that he would not be able to reach the runway, he initiated a forced landing to an open marsh area south of the airport. During the landing roll, the nosewheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over. During the postaccident engine examination the engine was run successfully and no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation were noted; the smell of fuel was present at the accident site. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.