Ryan NAVION accident near Concord, California, December 27, 2011
On December 27, 2011 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION, registered N4398K, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Concord, California (Concord/ Buchanan Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane and the subsequent total loss of engine power as a result of debris and water contamination in the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 27, 2011 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, California · Concord/ Buchanan Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4398K · no longer on the register · serial NAV-4-1398
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power, and during the subsequent attempt to return to the airport, the airplane collided with the terrain. A postaccident examination of the engine fuel system revealed that the fuel in the accumulator sump and the carburetor inlet screen line were contaminated with debris and water. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to this contamination as no further evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation was found.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Fuel contamination during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,718 hours in all; 1,518 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,698 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,717 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 20, 2011; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor E225 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA
- Destination: CCR Concord CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32R, 4,602 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CCR
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.