Piper PA-18 accident near Colusa, California, June 7, 1982
On June 7, 1982 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N2663A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colusa, California (Terrell Farms airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1982 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · Terrell Farms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N2663A · no longer on the register · serial 2177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A 3-POINT LANDING IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AS SOON AS THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PLANE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT INTO AN IRRIGATION DITCH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE TOOK THE HUB CAP OFF THE WHEEL AND THE INNER TUB VALVE STEM FELL OUT. HE BELIEVED THE TIRE HAD SLIPPED ON THE RIM AND CUT THE STEM.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,683 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,470 as pilot in command; 998 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,885 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Colusa CA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Colusa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,300 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N2663A 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.