Cessna 172 accident near Danville, California, June 27, 1993
On June 27, 1993 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2791U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Danville, 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 PILOT'S POOR FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1993 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2791U · no longer on the register · serial 17250391
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL AND CALCULATED THE TOTAL FUEL ON BOARD WAS EQUIVALENT TO 4.2 HOURS. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SINCE THE LAST REFUELING, THE AIRPLANE FLEW 0.8 HOURS. THE PILOT FLEW TO TWO DIFFERENT AIRPORTS BEFORE RETURNING TO THE HOME BASE. HE ALSO PERFORMED TWO OR THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS AT THE ITINERARY AIRPORTS. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING THE LAST ITINERARY AIRPORT THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE DURING THE ENSUING EMERGENCY LANDING. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE AIRPLANE CONTAINED ABOUT 1 3/4 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT WING TANK. THE RIGHT WING TANK WAS EMPTY.
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: 81 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 11 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,671 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1992; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tradewinds Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: O41 Woodland CA at 9:10 pm
- Destination: SJC San Jose CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.