Cessna 195B accident near Placerville, California, May 9, 1993
On May 9, 1993 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Cessna 195B, registered N2171C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Placerville, California (Swansboro Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE NORMAL BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1993 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Placerville, California · Swansboro Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195B · all 195Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2171C · registry record · serial 16156
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK A TREE DURING THE LANDING ROLL AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS INTACT AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE RIGHT BRAKE LINE SEVERED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE, BUT THE BRAKE HOUSING APPEARED NORMAL. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY EXTERNAL HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKS EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT WHEEL MASTER CYLINDER. THE A & P MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE SAID HE SUSPECTED THAT THE RIGHT WHEEL MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING DUE TO A WORN LOCK O-RING SEAL
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 061 Cameron Park CA at 4:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,100 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from MHR, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N2171C 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.