Cessna 195 accident near Big Bear, California, March 20, 2026
On March 20, 2026 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1949 Cessna 195, registered N9368A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Big Bear, California (Big Bear City 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 directional control during the landing roll with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2026 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Bear, California · Big Bear City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 UNDESIGNAT, built 1949 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N9368A · registry record · serial 7447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane at a familiar airport, which he described as often having unpredictable, variable winds. As he approached, automated radio weather reports indicated calm winds for the planned landing runway, and he heard another pilot on the radio indicating he had just landed on the same runway. On final approach, the pilot noticed the windsock indicated he was landing with a significant tailwind, and that the airplane’s ground speed was faster than anticipated. He elected to continue the landing; after touching down a gust picked up the right wing, which the pilot compensated for using right aileron control input. The airplane abruptly exited the right side of the runway and crossed an unpaved area to the parallel taxiway where it ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on Runway 08. An automated weather report 15 minutes prior to the accident indicated a right quartering tailwind from 210° at 8 knots.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,136 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 8.6 in the last 90 days; 3.5 in the last 30 days; 6,136 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,774 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2025; 30.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KSEE El Cajon CA at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08/2, 5,850 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KL35
Weather report (METAR): METAR KL35 202115Z AUTO 21008KT 184V244 10SM CLR 25/M06 A3036 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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 WPR26LA135.