Piper PA-18 accident near Colusa, California, July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1950 Piper PA-18, registered N7590K, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Colusa, California (Colusa County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate fuel planning and in-flight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2026 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Colusa, California · Colusa County Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18, built 1950 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N7590K · registry record · serial 18-307
- 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 amphibious float equipped airplane reported that he was on a cross-country return flight to his home airport. During the descent to the planned fuel-stop airport, he encountered stronger headwinds than usual. The pilot closely monitored the fuel sight gauges because he recognized that the remaining fuel would be marginal for reaching his intended destination. While on a straight-in approach, positioned about 2 miles from the airport, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot raised the airplane’s nose to improve glide performance and engine power briefly returned; however, the engine subsequently lost total power a second time. The pilot retracted the landing gear and conducted a forced landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a fence and came to rest nose-down in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion and that there were 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
- Fuel exhaustion during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level other cases naming the fuel system
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 9, 2026
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2026; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 1,200 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O86 Trinity Center CA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,034 ft by 59 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from KBAB, 29 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBAB 181555Z AUTO 15004KT 10SM CLR 22/12 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP158 T02150115 $
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7590K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 1,069 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sidney Pickels Field · nearest airport
- Trinity Center Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA268.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.