Cessna 172N accident near Woodland, California, November 9, 1983
On November 9, 1983, a Cessna 172N, registered N76073, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodland, California (Yolo County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1983
- Place
- Woodland, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N76073 · no longer on the register · serial 17268113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCREW REPORTED THAT AS THE ACFT WAS ENTERING A LEFT DOWNWIND TO LAND ON RWY 34, SPARKS, FIRE & SMOKE WERE OBSERVED EMANATING FROM THE ENG COMPARTMENT. REPORTEDLY, THE INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE ACFT, SHUT DOWN THE ENG & ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON RWY 16. DURING THE APCH TO LAND. THE ACFT STRUCK WIRES PARALLELING THE RWY & CRASHED. THE WIRES WERE LOCATED ABOUT 500 FT WEST OF RWY 16. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRECRASH FIRE.
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 single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,206 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 196 in the last 90 days; 2,161 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,728 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 28, 1983; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: River City Air/Charter
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 3:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 12,000 ft; not recorded at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 3:48 am from SAC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.