Piper PA-28-161 accident near Vacaville, California, March 16, 1993
On March 16, 1993 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8120H, was destroyed in an accident near Vacaville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1993 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Vacaville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8120H · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS IN A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 1900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. HE SAID HE CHANGED FUEL TANKS AND TURNED ON THE FUEL PUMP. HE REPORTED THE ENGINE THEN LOST TOTAL POWER. HE SAID HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A VALLEY. DURING THE TERMINATION OF THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN FOLLOWED BY THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL AND FUSELAGE. THE AIRPLANE'S FUSELAGE WAS DESTROYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR SUPERVISING THE ENGINE EXAMINATION REPORTED THAT NO PRE EXISTING DEFICIENCIES WERE NOTED DURING THE EXAMINATION AND THAT THE EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL A REASON FOR THE REPORTED ENGINE POWER LOSS.
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: 82 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1993; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N8120H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.