Cessna 172 accident near Rio Vista, California, March 16, 1989
On March 16, 1989 at about 2:40 am local time, a Cessna 172, registered N51313, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Vista, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF AN EMERGENCY (SIMULATED) MANEUVER BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1989 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N51313 · registry record · serial 17274296
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A C172 FLEW INTO A TELEPHONE WIRE, LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN WHILE EXECUTING A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO A FIELD ABOUT 8 MILES WEST OF RIO VISTA, CA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS SHOWING HIS PASSENGERS SIMULATED FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD. WHILE IN A DESCENT, BOTH OF THE PILOTS AND THE PASSENGER SAW A TELEPHONE WIRE IN THEIR FLIGHT PATH (AT ABOUT 75 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL). THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE WIRE. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CLEARED THE WIRE BUT, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER CAUGHT THE WIRE. THE PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THERE WAS NO REPORTED MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE TO THE AIRPLANE, PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 113 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1988; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Buchanon Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.