Cessna 172 accident near Orick, California, March 4, 1985
On March 4, 1985 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N12486, was destroyed in an accident near Orick, California (Jack Mcnamara airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 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
- March 4, 1985 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Orick, California · Jack Mcnamara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N12486 · no longer on the register · serial 172-62016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE IN FLT AT 11,500 FT, THE PLT BEGAN A DESCENT. AS THE ACFT REACHED 2500 FT, THE ENG BEGAN SPUTTERING, THEN LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A WIRE FENCE AS THE PLT WAS APPROACHING TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT, HE HAD TURNED ON THE CARB HEAT. HOWEVER, THE CARB HEAT CONTROL WAS FOUND IN THE OFF POSITION & THE CARB HEAT DOOR WAS CLOSED. NO PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 38 & 34 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CURVES, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN A SERIOUS CARB ICING RANGE DURING THE DESCENT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 616 hours in all; 616 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 494 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1985; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,220 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 085 Redding CA at 5:50 pm
- Destination: CEC Crescent City CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:41 pm from CEC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.