Event LAX96LA039

Factual narrative

On November 3, 1995, about 2110 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 402B, N316HG, experienced a total loss of engine power and crashed into a marsh in Redwood City, California. The airplane was on final approach to runway 30 at the San Carlos Airport when both engines lost power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airline transport pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The personal flight originated from Compton, California, about 1915. Examination of the airplane by inspectors from the FAA's San Jose Flight Standards District Office the morning after the accident revealed that the two wing locker fuel tanks and the two auxiliary fuel tanks were empty. The two main fuel tanks were approximately 3/4 full. The fuel tank selector controls were in the "off" positions. The inspectors also determined that the pilot's biennial flight review was 6 months past due. In his report to the NTSB the pilot stated that the aircraft was serviced before departure and had 140 gallons fuel aboard for the 1 hour 55 minute flight. The engines were fed from their respective main tanks for all but 20 minutes in the mid-portion of the flight when they were fed from their respective auxiliary tanks. He stated that when he reduced power on a 5-mile final approach he noted the engines running rough, but was able to restore smooth power with full rich mixture. 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 selectors for proper position and then executed an off-airport forced landing. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12