Cessna 120 accident near Kneeland, California, February 20, 2026
On February 20, 2026 at about 4:57 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 120, registered N72904, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Kneeland, California (Kneeland 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2026 · about 4:57 pm local time
- Place
- Kneeland, California · Kneeland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 120, built 1946 · all 120s on the register
- Registration
- N72904 · registry record · serial 10098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during touchdown on a snow-covered runway, he reduced engine power to idle shortly after touchdown. Subsequently, the airplane rapidly decelerated and the tail began to rise. The pilot maintained full aft yoke; however, the airplane nosed over and came to rest on the runway, inverted. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot added that prior to landing, he conducted a low pass over the runway, and thought the snow was only a few inches deep, however, following the accident, he estimated the snow was about 5 to 6 inches deep. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 619.9 hours in all; 212.6 in this make and model; 41.2 in the last 90 days; 9.7 in the last 30 days; 546.4 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2025; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 1,060 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKA Eureka CA at 4:35 pm
- Destination: EKA Eureka CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,250 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 am from KACV, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KACV 201953Z AUTO 19011G18KT 10SM CLR 10/02 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP180 T01000017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR26LA106.