Cessna 172M accident near Willits, California, May 28, 1991
On May 28, 1991 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N1407U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willits, California (Willits airport). 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
THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE FLARE AND FAILED TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS ENTERING INTO AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1991 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willits, California · Willits · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1407U · registry record · serial 17267077
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS COMPLETING A PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, AND MISJUDGED THE FLARE, LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED. THE PILOT FAILED TO RECOVER FROM THE BOUNCED LANDING AND THE AIRPLANE PORPOISED 3 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY.
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: 253 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 157 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320-EZ (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nri, INC., Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.