Cessna P210 accident near Willits, California, July 4, 2017
On July 4, 2017 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1985 Cessna P210, registered N66NF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Willits, California (Ells Field-Willits Muni). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 while landing in gusting wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to go around after the unstabilized approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2017 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · Ells Field-Willits Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P210 R, built 1985 · all P210s on the register
- Registration
- N66NF · no longer on the register · serial P21000860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the airplane reported that, while landing and trying to maintain the runway centerline, the airplane was "blown to the east, presumably by either stronger winds or gusts." He added that he continued to descend while attempting to correct back to the right toward the runway centerline. He further added that he was "fearing a stall" and chose to "put the plane down in the grass and dirt to the left of the runway." Unable to stop the forward momentum with full application of the brakes, the airplane continued over the edge of the embankment and came to rest in the trees. A witness, who was flying another airplane in the pattern, reported that the accident airplane did not touch down until the second half of the landing runway. He added that the airplane was "over the dirt" on the east side of the runway when it touched down and went off the embankment at the end of the runway. He observed the pilot exit the airplane and walk away. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 21 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 150° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The pilot landed on runway 16.
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 in flight during landing defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
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
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,363 hours in all; 484 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520-CE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAO Palo Alto CA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: O28 Willits CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 2,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from KUKI, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2017. 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 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | 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.