Cessna 172F accident near Boonville, California, May 26, 1995
On May 26, 1995 at about 1:54 am local time, a Cessna 172F, registered N5255F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boonville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1995 · about 1:54 am local time
- Place
- Boonville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172F · all 172Fs on the register
- Registration
- N5255F · registry record · serial 17253361
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS FOGGED IN WHEN THE FLIGHT ARRIVED AND HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND AN AIRPORT THAT WAS OPEN. AFTER ARRIVING OVER THE AIRPORT AT BOONVILLE, THE PILOT MADE A LOW FLYBY OF THE RUNWAY TO CHECK IT OVER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLYING CLUB RULES REGARDING LANDINGS AT STRANGE AIRPORTS. THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO GO AROUND AND ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AGAIN FOR LANDING. AS THE AIRCRAFT ACHIEVED ABOUT 300 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE SOFT GROUND BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE WHEEL SHEARED OFF AFTER IT DUG INTO THE SOFT SOIL. FOLLOWING RECOVERY OF THE AIRCRAFT, IT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR AND A CERTIFICATED AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. AFTER REPAIR OF IMPACT DAMAGE, THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY STARTED AND RUN USING THE AIRFRAME FUEL AND IGNITION SYSTEMS. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT AT THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY WERE NOTED TO BE 79 AND 42 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY.
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: 5,200 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 4,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,519 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 9, 1995; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BAB Beale Afb CA
- Destination: O48 Little River CA
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 am from UKI, 22 miles away
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.
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.