Cessna 170A accident near Woodland, California, April 11, 1995
On April 11, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N1276D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodland, California (Watts-Woodland airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing. The mechanic's inadequate annual inspection by failing to determine the worn condition of the crosswind landing gear detent stop groove and snubber pin and the soft terrain were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Woodland, California · Watts-Woodland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1276D · registry record · serial 20124
- 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 VFR PERSONAL FLIGHT IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE. ON LANDING, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND CONTINUED TO PORPOISE, GROUND LOOPED, AND EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TOLD A GROUND WITNESS THAT SHE MESSED UP THE LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED IN THE ACCIDENT REPORT THAT THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WHEEL 'LOCKED UP.' EXAMINATION OF THE BRAKES, TIRES, AND FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS REVEALED THAT THEY WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. HOWEVER,THE AIRPLANE CROSSWIND LANDING GEAR DETENT STOP AND SNUBBER PIN WERE WORN. THIS CONDITION ALLOWED THE LEFT WHEEL TO UNLOCK PREMATURELY AND WITHOUT WARNING.
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: 156 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 113 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1994; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 017 Grass Valley CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: O41
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,770 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.