Cessna 172N accident near Auburn, California, December 22, 2021
On December 22, 2021 at about 9:50 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 172N, registered N6280F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Auburn, California (Auburn Municipal Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an instrument approach, which resulted in an impact with power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 2021 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, California · Auburn Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1979 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6280F · no longer on the register · serial 17273178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the pilot was on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan and was on a return flight to an airport after retrieving a company airplane. Radar data revealed that while on the approach path to land, about 3 miles from the destination airport, the airplane descended to 25 ft above the ground and shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted powerlines and came to rest on a rooftop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. A local law enforcement officer reported that as the pilot was being transported to the hospital, he stated that he was disoriented during the approach. The officer added that the visibility during the time of the accident was less than ¼ of a mile. The operator reported that the pilot did not inform him or the other company pilot flying ahead of him in another airplane of any mechanical malfunctions or failures to the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation prior to or during the 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Effect on personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Vestibular function › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,889.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2021; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360/A4M (piston); 3,793 hours total
- Operator: Fox Two, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KPVF Placerville CA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 07, 3,700 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KAUN, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KAUN 222155Z AUTO 16008KT 10SM SCT027 SCT031 BKN048 12/09 A2995 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 1, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Operator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Leo Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | radar Data Track Excerpt of Accident Flight | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.