Cessna 172M accident near Oakland, California, June 30, 2008
On June 30, 2008 at about 7:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N61736, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Oakland, California. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The oil starvation event was due to the failure of maintenance personnel to tighten the mounting bolts for the newly installed vacuum pump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2008 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Oakland, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N61736 · no longer on the register · serial 17264762
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight, the pilot noticed the engine was running rough along with a surge in power. He adjusted the mixture to the full rich position, which seemed to smooth the roughness. A few seconds later, he noticed that the engine oil temperature gauge was rising and he diverted towards a nearby airport. The pilot stated that while en route to the airport, the engine lost power and he initiated a forced landing to an open lot near his position. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a large mound of dirt. Examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the fuselage. Only residual oil was found in the engine. Examination of the engine revealed evidence of an internal oil starvation induced catastrophic failure. The nuts securing the vacuum pump to the mounting pad were loose. About 10 psi of compressed air was applied to the oil cooler inlet port on the engine. Bubbling oil was observed originating from the vacuum pump mounting pad. No further anomalies were noted. Review of maintenance records revealed that the vacuum pump was replaced prior to the accident flight.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Vacuum system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Fluid level
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 992 hours in all; 770 in this make and model; 311 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 926 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,036 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHWD Hayward CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KHWD, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.