Cessna T210F accident near Willits, California, July 27, 2002
On July 27, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna T210F, registered N6776R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willits, California (Ells Field-Willits Municipal A). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's misjudged, distance, and speed, and failure to attain the proper touchdown point.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · Ells Field-Willits Municipal A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210F · all T210Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6776R · no longer on the register · serial T210F-0176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane overran the runway and nosed over during the landing roll. During approach, the airplane was high, and the airspeed was faster than normal. It landed long, touching down about 90 miles per hour. The airplane touched down about three quarters down the runway, and the pilot applied brake pressure. The airplane departed the end of the runway and continued down a 30- to 40- foot embankment. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, with the nose facing 160 degrees. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,976 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 2002; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O69 Petaluma CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: O28 Willits CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 am from KUKI, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.