Aviat A1 accident near Columbia, California, February 22, 2020
On February 22, 2020 at about 9:46 pm local time, a 1999 Aviat A1, registered N462, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Columbia, California (Columbia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain bank control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 22, 2020 · about 9:46 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, California · Columbia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 A, built 1999
- Registration
- N462 · no longer on the register · serial 1446
- 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 he was practicing crosswind landings on the grass runway. On the second landing approach and as the airplane crossed over the runway threshold, it encountered a wind gust and rolled right. The pilot applied full engine power to perform a go-around, but the airplane continued to roll right. The right wing struck the ground, and the airplane cartwheeled into an adjacent wooded area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
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 › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,565 hours in all; 72.9 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 26, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,103 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 2019; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,890 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 1,185 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPU San Andreas CA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: O22 Columbia CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,607 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from O22
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 March 6, 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo - Airplane at the Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | 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.