Cessna 175 accident near Atwater, California, July 6, 1986
On July 6, 1986 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 175, registered N7108M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Atwater, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 6, 1986 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Atwater, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7108M · registry record · serial 55408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 175 COLLIDED WITH A TREE AFTER A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING A VFR X-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT INDICATED HE EXPERIENCED AN ENG FAILURE AT 2,000 FT MSL, WHILE ON DESCENT, APRX 15 MI FROM HIS DEST. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENG BEGAN TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. THE VIBRATIONS RAPIDLY BECAME WORSE, THEN THE ENG STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND SMOKE ENTERED THE COCKPIT. THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND AND SELECTED AN OPEN FIELD BOUNDED BY AN ALMOND ORCHARD. WHILE ON FINAL APCH, THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND STRUCK AN ALMOND TREE CAUSING THE ACFT TO LAND SHORT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF AN OPEN FIELD WHERE IT NOSED OVER IN A DITCH. THE ENG OIL SYST HAD BEEN MODIFIED WITH PLUMBING THAT ADDED A LINE WHICH EXTENDED THE DRAIN FROM THE DRAIN PLUG TO BELOW THE ENG COWLING. THE LINE WAS PLUGGED AT THE COWLING END AND THERE WAS NO PETCOCK TO RESTRICT THE OIL FROM DRAINING WHEN THE PLUG WAS REMOVED. THERE WAS A LEAK AT ONE OF THE FITTING WELDS WHICH ALLOWED THE ENG OIL TO FLOW OUT. NO OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENG OIL SYST WHEN IT WAS EXAMINED.
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: 114 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 64 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1985; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental GO-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Visalia CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 015 Turlock CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from MER, 5 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.