Cessna 402B accident near Redwood City, California, November 4, 1995
On November 4, 1995 at about 5:10 am local time, a Cessna 402B, registered N316HG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redwood City, California (San Carlos airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the simultaneous total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 1995 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- Redwood City, California · San Carlos · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402B · all 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N316HG · no longer on the register · serial 402B0016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A MARSH SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THE MAIN FUEL TANKS 3/4 FULL AND THE AUXILIARY AND WING LOCKER FUEL TANKS EMPTY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE WAS DESCENDING THROUGH 1,200 FEET MSL ON FINAL APPROACH HE PLACED THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS ON LOW AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS HEARD A BACKFIRE AND LOST POWER ON BOTH ENGINES. HE VERIFIED ENGINE FUEL MIXTURE CONTROLS AND FUEL TANK SELECTOR FOR PROPER POSITION AND THEN EXECUTED AN OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING. FAA INSPECTORS DETERMINED THE PILOT'S BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW WAS 6 MONTHS PAST DUE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,969 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 3,562 as pilot in command; 2,742 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1994; 212 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-EB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 3:15 am
- Destination: SQL San Carlos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 am from SQL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.