Cessna 172R accident near Petaluma, California, July 10, 2021
On July 10, 2021 at about 7:17 pm local time, a 1998 Cessna 172R, registered N996RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Petaluma, California (Petaluma Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing following a partial loss of electrical power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s distraction and hampered visual function.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2021 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- Petaluma, California · Petaluma Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172R, built 1998 · all 172Rs on the register
- Registration
- N996RA · registry record · serial 17280404
- 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, about 20 minutes into the cross-country flight, the airplane experienced a partial electrical failure which caused the intercom, radio, transponder, flaps, and some engine instruments to go offline, although the voltmeter and ammeter were still showing normal readings. The pilot cycled both the master and avionics master switches, with no improvement, and decided to divert to the nearest untowered airport. During the descent and approach, he became distracted multiple times as he heard intermittent short "blips" from the intercom. The pilot entered a right downwind entry into the traffic pattern and planned for a no-flap landing. He overshot to the right of the runway centerline as they turned from the base to final leg. He was able to maneuver to rejoin the centerline by the time they reached short final. They passed over the runway threshold with a left crosswind, and as the pilot initiated the flare, he felt the airplane sink aggressively, and he realized that he had initiated the flare too high. The airplane drifted to the right of the runway surface and landed hard in the grass in a nose high attitude. The lower fuselage and wing strut was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that an on-airport mechanic examined the airplane after the accident and was not able to find any issues with the electrical system. The pilot reported that, he had significant astigmatism and myopia, and used contact lenses for all previous flights, however the accident flight was the first time he had flown with eyeglasses after experiencing a contact lens malfunction that morning. He also reported that although he had performed multiple no-flap landings in the past, the accompanying change in forward visibility over the nose in concert with the use of eyeglasses instead of contact lenses, resulted in a changed sight picture and reduced peripheral vision.
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
- Electrical system malf/failure during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › (general) › Malfunction
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › Stress › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,569.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2021; 67.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,457 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 6,158 hours total
- Operator: Christiansen Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: KSQL San Carlos CA at 6:11 pm
- Destination: 0Q5 Shelter Cove CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11/2, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KO69, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KO69 101855Z AUTO 28004KT 10SM CLR 30/11 A2993 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA269.