Update on Corona, CA Cessna 172 crash.
(Photo by John Medina - Corona Fire Department)
Quick thinking may have saved the life of the pilot (and sole occupant) involved in a Cessna 172F (registration N8520U) crash near Corona Municipal Airport (AJO) in Corona, California. The aircraft flipped over during a forced landing after an engine failure on December 17, 2009 at 2:45 PM PST. For Velozia Air’s original post of the story, click HERE.
The pilot reported to the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) investigator that he rented the Cessna 172 from Fly Corona and intended to remain in the airport’s traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. After his initial takeoff out of runway 07, the pilot reported that everything was fine with the plane and it continued like that until the pilot was starting to get ready to land again. As he brought the throttle back, the pilot passed his intended power setting and tried to add a little bit more throttle. The engine, however, did not respond and increase in RPM, eventually dying out. Realizing that he could not make the runway and that the area ahead of him was full of trees, the pilot made a 180° turn towards and empty field and proceeded to land there. The aircraft struck a small fence at the end of the field and flipped over. The pilot stated that he checked the fuel quantity before takeoff and that it was full. He reported that fuel quality was good. Fly Corona also confirmed they had just fueled the 172 in the morning, so running out of fuel did not appear to be an issue.
All in all, the pilot made a good decision of not trying to make the runway and finding a suitable field instead, although at 180° behind the plane it may have been risky.
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