Cessna 172L accident near Ramona, California, January 22, 1993
On January 22, 1993 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7965G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ramona, California (Ramona airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 RELATED TO INADEQUATE AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE PRACTICES CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1993 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7965G · no longer on the register · serial 17259665
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH PILOTS SAID THEY WERE PRACTICING POWER OFF FORCED LANDINGS. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO UNDERSHOOT THE RUNWAY THE INSTRUCTOR INCREASED THE THROTTLE BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A BERM SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED WITH NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED. THE CARBURETOR, HOWEVER, HAD NUMEROUS DISCREPANCIES. THE CARBURETOR ITSELF WAS THE INCORRECT PART FOR THE ENGINE AND THE JETS WERE THE INCORRECT ONES FOR THE CARBURETOR. THE FLOAT WAS INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED AND THE NEEDLE VALVE WAS WORN. INCORRECT SCREWS WERE INSTALLED IN THE THROTTLE BUTTERFLY VALVE AND BOTH THE THROTTLE SHAFT AND ITS ASSOICATED BUSHINGS WERE WORN. THE BOWL TO THROTTLE BODY ATTACHMENT SCREWS WERE FOUND LOOSE. THE HISTORY OF THE CARBURETOR COULD NOT BE DETERMINED FROM AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,766 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 1,664 as pilot in command; 164 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,589 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 1992; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Flyers, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SEE San Diego CA at 9:19 pm
- Destination: SEE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.