Cessna 140 accident near Sonora, CA
On February 6, 2020, a Cessna 140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sonora, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- February 6, 2020
- Place
- Sonora, CA
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.031°N, 120.414°W
- NTSB ID
- 20200205X33820
Official records · WPR20FA086
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On February 5, 2020, at 1807 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140A airplane, N9474A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Columbia, California. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilots' wife, the purpose of the flight was to take the passenger to Pismo Beach, California, for a business meeting. The intent was to complete the trip during the day so he would not have to fly at night. The flight was expected to return to Columbia Airport (O22), Columbia, California by 1700 the day of the accident. According to recorded radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the flight departed O22 and was tracked to Oceano County Airport (L52), Oceano, California. The flight departed L52 at 1543 and flew toward New Coalinga Municipal Airport (C80), Coalinga, California. The flight then flew from C80 to Harris Ranch Airport (3O8), Coalinga, California. Radar data indicated the airplane departed 3O8 about 1702 on a northbound heading. The airplane’s altitude varied between 2,000 and 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) as it continued toward O22. When the airplane was about 1.5 nautical miles (nm) from runway 35 at O22, it turned slightly to the right, consistent with a straight-in approach to runway 35, descending slightly until track data was lost about .75 nm from the approach end of runway 35. A witness near the accident site reported that he was working on his ranch when the daylight started to fade. He estimated it
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during approach for landing.
More accidents in CA
- Douglas MD-83, Feb 1, 2000
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Aug 31, 1986
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- Sikorsky S-61N, Aug 6, 2008
Browse: California · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
