Cessna 180K accident near Agua Caliente Springs, California, January 12, 2023
On January 12, 2023 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1979 Cessna 180K, registered N2875K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Agua Caliente Springs, California (Agua Caliente Springs 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 maintain aircraft control during an aborted approach, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 12, 2023 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Agua Caliente Springs, California · Agua Caliente Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180K, built 1979 · all 180Ks on the register
- Registration
- N2875K · no longer on the register · serial 18053111
- 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 announced his position on the common traffic advisory frequency while inbound to land on his destination runway. Just prior to touchdown, the pilot observed an airplane landing directly in his path from the opposite end of the runway. To avoid a collision, the pilot added power and attempted to climb to the left, but impacted a berm, nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,599 hours in all; 2,530 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 0.4 in the last 30 days; 2,513 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 31, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U17 (piston); 1,936 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMYF San Diego CA at 6:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KL08, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KL08 121935Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/M02 A3028 RMK AO2=
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 June 23, 2023. 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 | 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.