Cessna 175 accident near Elk, California, December 31, 2019
On December 31, 2019 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 175, registered N7095M, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Elk, California (Little River 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
The pilot's failure to arrest the descent rate during an aborted simulated engine-out approach, which resulted in impact with vegetation and a subsequent cartwheel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2019 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elk, California · Little River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 175 Undesignat, built 1958 · all 175s on the register
- Registration
- N7095M · no longer on the register · serial 55395
- 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 he completed an aerial observation flight, he decided to conduct a simulated engine-out approach to an open field. When the airplane was about 40 ft above ground level, the pilot aborted the approach by applying full engine power and elevator backpressure. The descent was not immediately arrested, but the airplane seemed to be accelerating. As the airplane continued to descend, it slipped left, and the left main landing gear struck a bush, which induced more left yaw and loss of lift. Subsequently, the wing struck vegetation and terrain, and the airplane then cartwheeled and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR go-around)
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 296.6 hours in all; 186.3 in this make and model; 14.6 in the last 90 days; 1.7 in the last 30 days; 201 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 1, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,990 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2019; 30 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-360-C (piston); 1,556 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KLLR Lttle River CA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: O69 Petaluma CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:15 pm from LLR, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on January 14, 2020. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 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.