Cessna 172 accident near Woodland, California, January 19, 1986
On January 19, 1986 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N6421E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodland, California (Yolo County airport). It was a personal 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
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
- January 19, 1986 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6421E · registry record · serial 72-46521
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT ABOUT 1,000 MSL. THE POWER LOSS WAS SMOOTH AND RAPID. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE ACFT NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY ENGINE COMPONENT MALFUNCTION AND/OR FAILURE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 57 DEG F AND THE DEW POINT WAS ABOUT 51 DEG F. ACCORDING TO THE CARB ICING CURVE, THE ACFT WOULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED SERIOUS CARB ICING IN CRUISE OR CLIMB POWER SETTINGS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT USE CARB HEAT PRIOR TO LOSS OF POWER OR DURING RESTART ATTEMPTS.
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: 260 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2Q3 Woodland CA
- Destination: 045 Vacaville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SAC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.