Cessna 180B accident near Red Bluff, California, July 20, 1990
On July 20, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Cessna 180B, registered N20KB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Red Bluff, California (Dye Creek Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IMPROPER LANDING FLARE AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Red Bluff, California · Dye Creek Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180B · all 180Bs on the register
- Registration
- N20KB · registry record · serial 50425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 180B COLLIDED WITH ROUGH TERRAIN ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ON LANDING. THEN TOUCHED DOWN STRAIGHT IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TRAVELLED STRAIGHT FOR SEVERAL FEET AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK BOULDERS THAT BORDERED THE RUNWAY SHOULDER. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SEPARATED AT THE FUSELAGE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN COLLIDED WITH A FENCE THAT PARALLELED THE RUNWAY. THE WINDS WERE CALM. THE PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 155 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,663 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3O7 Hollister CA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from RBL, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.