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NTSB Report
July 16, 1984 · Cessna 172 M · N20333
Woodland Hills, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 16, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (5 uninjured)
Location
Woodland Hills, CA
Aircraft
Cessna 172 M
Tail Number
N20333
Operator
John Brown
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX84LA397
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON CITY STREET AFTER A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE PRIVATE PLT WAS CARRYING PASSENGERS AND HAD REPORTEDLY NOT BRIEFED THEM ON EMERGENCIES. HE ALSO DID NOT FASTEN HIS SHOULDER HARNESS BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO CONNECT IT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 3500 FT. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE RPM. THE PLT REVERSED COURSE AND CALLED THE TOWER. HE PUMPED THE THROTTLE TRYING TO GET POWER. A POLICEMAN WHO OBSERVED THE DESCENDING ACFT SAID IT WAS GOING SLOW WITH BLACK SMOKE TRAILING IT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, POLES AND A FENCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CARBURETOR HAD FAILED. 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE OWNER HAD SAFETY WIRED THE CARBURETOR TO HOLD IT TOGETHER SINCE THE SCREWS WERE STRIPPED. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT CESSNA PRODUCTS AND THE SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT ATTACH TO THE LAP BELTS.
Full Narrative
THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON CITY STREET AFTER A PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE PRIVATE PLT WAS CARRYING PASSENGERS AND HAD REPORTEDLY NOT BRIEFED THEM ON EMERGENCIES. HE ALSO DID NOT FASTEN HIS SHOULDER HARNESS BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO CONNECT IT. AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT CLIMBED TO 3500 FT. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE RPM. THE PLT REVERSED COURSE AND CALLED THE TOWER. HE PUMPED THE THROTTLE TRYING TO GET POWER. A POLICEMAN WHO OBSERVED THE DESCENDING ACFT SAID IT WAS GOING SLOW WITH BLACK SMOKE TRAILING IT. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, POLES AND A FENCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CARBURETOR HAD FAILED. 5 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE OWNER HAD SAFETY WIRED THE CARBURETOR TO HOLD IT TOGETHER SINCE THE SCREWS WERE STRIPPED. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT CESSNA PRODUCTS AND THE SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT ATTACH TO THE LAP BELTS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:13 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 172 M
Tail NumberN20333
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJohn Brown
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (5 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured5
Total5
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO