Cessna 170B accident near San Luis Obispo, California, March 7, 2014
On March 7, 2014 at about 9:40 pm local time, a 1952 Cessna 170B, registered N2252D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis Obispo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
Corrosion of the bulkhead assembly in the left main landing gearbox area, which resulted in the structural failure of the bulkhead and the subsequent landing gear collapse.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 2014 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis Obispo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170B, built 1952 · all 170Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2252D · no longer on the register · serial 20404
- 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, shortly after a normal touchdown, the left main landing gear (MLG) collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the gearbox area. Review of videos from three surveillance cameras with different views of the landing corroborated the pilot's report that the landing was normal. Examination of the airplane revealed evidence of corrosion of the left MLG bulkhead assembly in the damaged gearbox area. The corrosion likely weakened the bulkhead's structure and resulted in the collapse of the left MLG.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Bulkheads (main fuselage) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,535 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,291 as pilot in command; 2,119 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 28, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,332 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,197 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSBP San Luis Obispo CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: KSBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from SBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 24, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Cessna 170B Landing Gear Bulkhead Illustrated Parts Catalog | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.