Cessna 172RG/A accident near Vacaville, California, July 21, 1991
On July 21, 1991 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172RG/A, registered N5247U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vacaville, California (Nut Tree airport). 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 PRIVATE PILOT PIC FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLLOUT. THE CFI PILOT FAILED TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1991 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · Nut Tree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172RG/A · all 172RG/As on the register
- Registration
- N5247U · no longer on the register · serial 172RG0299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS UNEVENTFUL AND EVERYTHING IN THE AIRCRAFT WAS WORKING. THE APPROACH AND LANDING WAS NORMAL. THE WIND WAS CALM. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED, THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS PUSHED TO COLD AND THE COWL FLAPS WERE OPENED. AT THAT POINT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT STATED AS THE TURN EXAGGERATED HE APPLIED MORE BRAKE PRESSURE WITHOUT EFFECT. THE PILOT CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A VISUAL AND FUNCTIONAL EXAMINATION BY AN FAA INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL.
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: 776 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 713 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1AL68 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cable Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.