Cessna 172N accident near Oceanside, California, March 6, 2009
On March 6, 2009 at about 9:53 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N726RJ, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Oceanside, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2009 · about 9:53 pm local time
- Place
- Oceanside, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N726RJ · no longer on the register · serial 17272431
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a local flight, radar data identified for the accident airplane indicated that approximately 1 hour into the flight, the airplane climbed above 12,500 feet. About 15 minutes later it climbed above 14,000 feet, and stayed above 14,000 for 42 minutes. At this point, the target was descending, and began turning to the right (west). It lost 13,000 feet in the last minute. Boaters reported seeing the airplane going nose low into the ocean. They maneuvered their boats to the site, and observed debris and an oil slick. The Coast Guard recovered several pieces of debris including a seat, which fell within the serial number range of the accident airplane. The remainder of the wreckage and the pilot were not recovered.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 252 hours in all; 207 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 158 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 26, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,389 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 3, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Golden Wings Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 7:48 pm
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from KOKB, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.