Cessna 172E accident near Suisun City, California, November 27, 2010
On November 27, 2010 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Cessna 172E, registered N5582T, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Suisun City, California (Buchanan Field Airport). It was a personal 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 total 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
- November 27, 2010 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Suisun City, California · Buchanan Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N5582T · no longer on the register · serial 17251482
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was about 11 miles northeast of the airport on the approach to the runway when the engine suddenly stopped developing power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine multiple times but was unsuccessful, and he initiated a forced landing to a nearby field. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the wing fuel tanks were not breached and showed little damage. During the recovery, it was noted that both wing tank fuel caps were loose from their respective fuel tank filler necks and hanging by their chains. No fuel was found within the tanks, nor was there a fuel smell around the immediate area. Fuel was noted in and drained from the fuel lines, a condition that in a carbureted engine would be inconsistent with a fuel exhaustion event. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. Serious carburetor icing at cruise power was probable during the timeframe of the accident; however, it is unclear if that contributed to the loss of power.
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 approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,200 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 28, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,358 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2010; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-300 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA at 10:20 pm
- Destination: CCR Buchanan Field CA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 10:39 pm from SUU, 8 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.