Cessna 172M accident near Napa, California, June 25, 2001
On June 25, 2001 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N1409V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Napa, California (Napa County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to the restricted movement of the number 1 exhaust valve that subsequently bent the exhaust push rod and push rod housing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2001 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Napa, California · Napa County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1409V · no longer on the register · serial 17263554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the missed approach the engine lost power, was maneuvered to land, and came to rest inverted after the nose wheel touched down in soft dirt. The purpose of the flight was to conduct instrument training at local area airports. The flight had departed home base approximately an hour away from the accident airport. No discrepancies were noted with the engine during the flight or the approach to land. As the student reached MDA the CFI instructed the student to conduct the missed approach. They climbed straight ahead to 500 feet msl and initiated a left-hand turn for compliance with the missed approach procedure. The engine began to lose power. The CFI declared an emergency and conducted the emergency checklist. She turned towards the runway and slipped the airplane down land on the runway. Due to the altitude, she knew they would not make the runway, so she attempted to land in a grassy area past the departure end of the runway. Again, the airplane was too high for landing and she had to maneuver to avoid the airport perimeter fence. The CFI turned away from the fence. When she returned the airplane to wings level flight the wheels touched down. The nose wheel dug into the soft dirt and the airplane flipped over. Examination of the engine revealed that the exhaust push rod housing and exhaust push rod were bent. The crankshaft was manually rotated establishing valve training continuity. No further discrepancies were noted with the engine.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 898 hours in all; 343 in this make and model; 237 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 843 as pilot in command; 561 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,059 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 25, 2001; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: APC Napa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36L, 5,931 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 4:25 pm from APC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.