Cessna 172N accident near Lakeside, California, August 31, 2002
On August 31, 2002 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N739ZV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lakeside, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine to respond for undetermined reasons. Also causal was the student's decision to continue the simulated emergency maneuver to an altitude that was insufficient to allow for contingency options. The unsuitable nature of the terrain selected for the landing terrain was a factor in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2002 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeside, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N739ZV · no longer on the register · serial 17270945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane made an off-airport landing following a loss of engine power. The student initiated a simulated engine failure and set up for a forced landing. The maneuver began at 4,200 feet agl and the pilot attempted the recovery at 500 feet agl. While recovering from the maneuver, the engine would not regain power. The student pilot executed a forced landing in a field, damaging the nose gear, firewall, and right wing. A post accident engine examination by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded engine power generation.
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
Dual student
- Flight time: 85 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plus One Flyers, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KMYF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N739ZV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.