Cessna 172C accident near Corona, California, December 5, 2001
On December 5, 2001 at about 6:15 am local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N1834Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corona, California (Corona Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat controls while in weather conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2001 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1834Y · registry record · serial 17249434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aborted landing attempt, the engine lost power and the airplane impacted soft swampy terrain. The nose wheel impacted the terrain first and was sheared off. The airplane came to an abrupt stop, and came to rest upright. On the approach the student pilot/owner/operator, who was also the pilot flying, moved the fuel selector to the BOTH position. He did not visually verify the fuel selector's actual position, he did it by feel. The airplane landed hard and began to porpoise down the runway. The private pilot, seated in the right seat, took the flight controls from the student pilot and initiated an aborted landing. He advanced the throttle, and the airplane climbed to 80 feet when the engine quit. The private pilot aimed the airplane towards the ground to avoid trees situated off the departure end of the runway. The student pilot refueled the airplane prior to departure, and noted no mechanical anomalies on the return flight. After the accident, fuel was observed in both fuel tanks. Due to the nose down, wing low attitude of the airplane on-scene, a determination could not be made as to the amount of fuel on board. Post accident examination of the airframe and engine disclosed no evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure. The carburetor heat control was found in the off position. According to the aviation routine weather report for an airport 10 statute miles from the accident site, the temperature/dew point was 45 degrees and 41 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. According to the Carburetor Icing Probability Chart, the conditions were conducive to serious icing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 449 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 389 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HND Henderson NV at 5:00 am
- Destination: AJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from CNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.