Cessna 120 accident near Davis, California, September 18, 2016
On September 18, 2016 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 120, registered N76284, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Davis, California (Yolo County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the seatbelt anchor bracket.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2016 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Davis, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120 NO SERIES, built 1946 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N76284 · registry record · serial 10698
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane "began suddenly swerving" and would not respond to opposite rudder inputs. The airplane veered off the runway into a freshly-plowed field where it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The pilot further reported that, during the noseover, the center seatbelt anchor bracket failed, which resulted in both occupants falling out of their seats once the airplane became inverted. About 2 years before the accident, in response to a similar accident, the manufacturer issued a service bulletin that called for inspection of the center seat belt bracket to ensure that the latest type (steel) bracket was installed. The service bulletin had not been completed on the accident airplane.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 23, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,259.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,451 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 6,259 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DWA Davis CA at 3:40 pm
- Destination: DWA Davis CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:40 pm from KEDU, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N76284 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.