Cessna 150C accident near Johnsondale, California, December 30, 2021
On December 30, 2021 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1963 Cessna 150C, registered N7801Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Johnsondale, California. 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 maintain directional control of the airplane while landing on a snow-covered unimproved runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2021 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Johnsondale, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150C, built 1963 · all 150Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7801Z · registry record · serial 15059901
- 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 attempted a touch and go landing on a snow-covered backcountry airstrip, in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The snow was deeper than he anticipated and the ground beneath the snow softer than expected. During the landing, the main wheels dug in, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 847 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 812 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,735 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3,937 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L05 Kernville CA
- Destination: L05 Kernville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KBFL, 36 miles away
Weather report (METAR): SA 30/12/2021 22:54-> METAR KBFL 302254Z 31006KT 6SM HZ FEW017 OVC085 12/08 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP109 T01170078=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 18, 2022. 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 | Phone Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo | 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.