Cessna 210 accident near Redding, California, April 25, 2026
On April 25, 2026 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna 210, registered N6130F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Redding, California (Benton Fld 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 extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction and his failure to conduct the before landing checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2026 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Redding, California · Benton Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 210 H, built 1968 · all 210s on the register
- Registration
- N6130F · registry record · serial 21059030
- 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 became distracted by converging traffic and the short runway while entering the traffic pattern. During the approach, he did not complete his before-landing checklist or extend the landing gear. He stated that because the engine rpm remained above the landing gear warning horn activation threshold during the approach, the horn did not sound. The airplane landed with the landing gear retracted and slid to rest on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,504 hours in all; 2,365 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4,340 as pilot in command; 829 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 23, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,710 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2025; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO520 A (piston); 1,234 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GOO Grass Valley CA at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 2,420 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from KRDD, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRDD 241853Z 17004KT 10SM CLR 19/07 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP118 T01940072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 WPR26LA171.