Cessna 175 accident near Gold Beach, Oregon, February 8, 2016
On February 8, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1960 Cessna 175, registered N6951E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Gold Beach, Oregon (Gold Beach Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain an approach angle of descent to avoid obstacles, resulting in the airplane striking the airport perimeter fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gold Beach, Oregon · Gold Beach Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 A, built 1960 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N6951E · no longer on the register · serial 56451
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during approach, the airplane encountered a wind gust and the landing gear struck the top of the airport's perimeter fence. The airplane flipped over and slid to a stop. According to the airport facility directory the fence was in excess of 200 feet from the approach end of the runway which was 3,237 feet in length. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the rudder and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation. There weren't any wind reporting facilities at the airport.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,304 hours in all; 18.7 in this make and model; 7.6 in the last 90 days; 3.9 in the last 30 days; 1,304 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,005.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 20, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,348 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motor Company GO-300 (piston); 1,451 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEC Crescent City CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 4S1 Gold Beach OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,237 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KBOK, 22 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.