Cessna 182 accident near Colusa, California, November 14, 1993
On November 14, 1993 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna 182, registered N5723B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colusa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
was the poor major overhaul conducted by maintenance personnel by failing to properly service the cam shaft. The camshaft gears fatigue which led to its ultimate failure, the dark night conditions, and the power lines were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 1993 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5723B · no longer on the register · serial 33723
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHEN THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING TO A LOWER ALTITUDE DURING A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE THE CLOSEST AIRPORT. THE PILOT TURNED ON THE LANDING LIGHTS AND ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT OBSERVED SOME POWER LINES CROSS HIS FINAL APPROACH PATH. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER BENEATH THE POWER LINES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE CLIPPED THE LINES AND CRASHED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LAST MAINTENANCE FACILITY TO OVERHAUL THE ENGINE FAILED TO NITRIDE AND HARDEN THE CAM GEARS AS REQUIRED. THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT GEARS FAILED IN FATIGUE.
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: 221 hours in all; 186 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 221 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,348 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1993; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LSN Los Banos CA at 1:30 am
- Destination: O85 Redding CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from MYV
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.