Piper PA-18 accident near Colusa, California, July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026 at about 4:00 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2026 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, California · Colusa County 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 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 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
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR26LA268.