Undetermined · NTSB WPR09LA149
CESSNA 172N — Oceanside, CA
| Date | March 6, 2009 |
| Location | Oceanside, CA |
| Aircraft | CESSNA 172N |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute-cruise Unknown or undetermined |
| Pilot age | 75 |
| Pilot total time | 252 hrs · Low time |
| Time in type | 207 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
What happened
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.