# Accident 20040228004039A: Cessna 120, Red Bluff, CA, February 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2004, 11:30 local time
- Place: Red Bluff, CA
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1506° N, 122.2522° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1506&lon=-122.2522&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3029N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3029N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040228004039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) CESSNA 120, N3029N, CAME TO REST INVERTED AFTER A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING AT A PRIVATE STRIP NEAR RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED; THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LOCAL AREA FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM RED BLUFF MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (RBL), WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF THE PRIVATE FIELD. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN HAD NOT BEEN FILED. PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A PRIVATE RUNWAY ABOUT 20 FEET WIDE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, AND DESPITE RUDDER INPUTS, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE RUNWAY AND ENCOUNTERED SOFT, MUDDY TERRAIN, RESULTING IN THE LANDING GEAR SINKING IN. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE AIRPLANE INCURRED DAMAGE TO THE WING STRUT, VERTICAL STABILIZER, COWLING, AND WINGS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX04CA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA145), Feb 28, 2004: Cessna 120 (N3029N), Red Bluff, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind condition and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a narrow runway. A contributing factor were the gusty tailwind…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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