Cessna 170B accident near Columbia, California, April 7, 2010
On April 7, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170B, registered N2629D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Columbia, California (Columbia 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2629D · registry record · serial 20781
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after conducting a three-point landing on runway 17, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to turn to the left. The pilot applied right rudder for correction and the airplane turned to the right. The pilot then immediately applied full power and left rudder with no result from either input. The aircraft continued to turn to the right and the left wingtip contacted the runway surface. The airplane exited the right side of the runway and nosed over, resulting in structural damage to the empennage and wings. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 160 degrees at 6 knots. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,446 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 8,242 as pilot in command; 6,114 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 21, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,467 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2009; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-360-AYM (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O22 Columbia CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: O22 Columbia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,670 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from MOD, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.