Cessna T206H accident near Fullerton, California, April 19, 2010
On April 19, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N6045C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Municipal airport). It was a public-use flight (local) under public-use (government) rules. 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 pilot’s inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the landing flare and failure to maintain directional control on the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N6045C · registry record · serial T20608648
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot encountered light to moderate turbulence during the approach. The airspeed was 69 knots as the airplane crossed over the airport fence on short final. As the pilot began to level off over the runway, he encountered wind shear. The airplane rose rapidly and then fell abruptly. The left main wheel hit hard on the runway. A left crosswind picked up the left wing, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected with left aileron and right rudder, but was unable to prevent the airplane from skidding off the left side of the runway. It went into the dirt, and the nose gear collapsed. The airframe sustained substantial damage to the firewall.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Response/compensation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 685 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 591 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 12, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,064 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2010; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Orange County Sheriff'S Department Rnsp
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 7:40 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:07 pm from KFUL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.