Cessna 182 N939CP

Summary

On 12 November 2020 at about 19:43 local time, a Cessna 182 registered N939CP, operated by Civil Air Patrol, was involved in an accident near Los Angeles, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 November 2020 at 19:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Angeles, California, United States

Nearest airport

Whiteman (WHP)

Coordinates

34.2593, -118.4134

Aircraft

Cessna 182

Registration

N939CP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Civil Air Patrol

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bakersfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21FA048

1 person died.

Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the throttle control hardware during recent maintenance, which resulted in its disconnection and a subsequent loss of engine power on approach for landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on final approach to the runway, the pilot reported to the tower controller a loss of engine power, and that he was attempting to make the runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane collided with power lines in a residential area about 175 ft short of the runway threshold. A postaccident fire consumed the wreckage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine’s throttle control rod was separated from the throttle body control arm. None of the attachment hardware, which comprised of a bolt, washer, castellated nut, and cotter pin, was found. Additionally, no evidence of impact damage was noted in the throttle lever linkage control rod end or the control arm where it attached. The airplane’s most recent annual inspection was 78 flight hours and about 2 months before the accident. During the inspection, a new engine was installed. Based on the available information, it is likely that the throttle control connecting hardware was improperly installed or secured during the most recent maintenance, which resulted in its disconnection and a loss of engine power and throttle control while on final approach.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.