Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Colusa, California 95932
Saturday, November 13, 1993 19:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHEN THE PILOT WAS DESCENDING TO A LOWER ALTITUDE DURING A NIGHT VFR FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE THE CLOSEST AIRPORT. THE PILOT TURNED ON THE LANDING LIGHTS AND ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT OBSERVED SOME POWER LINES CROSS HIS FINAL APPROACH PATH. HE ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER BENEATH THE POWER LINES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE CLIPPED THE LINES AND CRASHED. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LAST MAINTENANCE FACILITY TO OVERHAUL THE ENGINE FAILED TO NITRIDE AND HARDEN THE CAM GEARS AS REQUIRED. THE CAM AND CRANKSHAFT GEARS FAILED IN FATIGUE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

was the poor major overhaul conducted by maintenance personnel by failing to properly service the cam shaft. The camshaft gears fatigue which led to its ultimate failure, the dark night conditions, and the power lines were factors in this accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/13/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City COLUSA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95932
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1856 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1749
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 13 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5723B
NTSB Number LAX94LA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 182
Aircraft Series Identifier 182
Aircraft Serial Number 33723
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 7 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 2348
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEN SMITH/MIKE WILBER
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 298
Aircraft Owner City SHASTA
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 96087
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LSN
Departure City LOS BANOS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O85
Destination City REDDING
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --