# NTSB investigations: Cessna 120: Nose over/nose down

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB WPR27LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR27LA023.md): Cessna 120 · Death Valley, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Investigation open · Oct 24, 2026 · N89885
- [NTSB WPR26LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA106.md): Cessna 120 · Kneeland, CA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 20, 2026 · N72904 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.
- [NTSB WPR22LA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA336.md): Cessna 120 · Scappoose, OR · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Sep 5, 2022 · N77257 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while taxing in gusty wind conditions.
- [NTSB CEN22LA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA358.md): Cessna 120 · Mecosta, MI · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 30, 2022 · N2902N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to depart on inadequate runway surface conditions that resulted in a loss of control after attempting to abort the takeoff, a runway excursion, and a nose over.
- [NTSB GAA20CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA095.md): Cessna 120 · Marion, AL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 23, 2019 · N77200 · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's overapplication of the brakes during landing to avoid a deer on the runway, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB ERA19LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA226.md): Cessna 120 · Summit, SC · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 13, 2019 · N3886V · Substantial damage
  > A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to carburetor ice formation.
- [NTSB CEN19LA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA046.md): Cessna 120 · Beaumont, KS · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 15, 2018 · N2496N · Substantial damage
  > The right brake being locked during the landing roll on the turf runway for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations, which resulted in a noseover.
- [NTSB CEN19LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA006.md): Cessna 120 · Hudson, CO · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 13, 2018 · N1881N · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB GAA18CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA221.md): Cessna 120 · Iola, WI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 21, 2018 · N1807V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s decision to reject the takeoff from a snow-covered grass surface, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB GAA18CA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA027.md): Cessna 120 · New Bern, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 21, 2017 · N72552 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.
- [NTSB GAA17CA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA156.md): Cessna 120 · Orange, MA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Feb 24, 2017 · N77116 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB GAA17CA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA071.md): Cessna 120 · Lincoln, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 14, 2016 · N120MD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.
- [NTSB GAA16LA525](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA525.md): Cessna 120 · Davis, CA · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 18, 2016 · N76284 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and noseover. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the seatbelt anchor bracket.
- [NTSB GAA16CA304](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA304.md): Cessna 120 · Climax, NC · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 10, 2016 · N77216 · Substantial damage
  > An evasive maneuver during the landing roll to avoid deer on the runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and a nose over. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an airport perimeter fence.
- [NTSB WPR16LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA018.md): Cessna 120 · Lone Pine, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 24, 2015 · N3124N · Substantial damage
  > The fracture of the left main landing gear (MLG) wheel axle due to fatigue, which resulted in the separation of the left MLG wheel during takeoff from a dirt airstrip.
- [NTSB GAA16CA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA024.md): Cessna 120 · McKinney, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 17, 2015 · N2099V · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's use of excessive brake input during the recovery from the ground loop, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB CEN14CA370](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA370.md): Cessna 120 · Midland, MI · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 16, 2014 · N76097 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed and his delayed application of engine power while on short final which resulted in a hard landing.
- [NTSB CEN13CA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA400.md): Cessna 120 · Lakeville, MN · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 8, 2013 · N2693N · Substantial damage
  > The student pilot's excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB WPR11CA447](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA447.md): Cessna 120 · Pendleton, OR · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 19, 2011 · N1705N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's excessive brake application while landing on rough terrain.
- [NTSB WPR10CA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA043.md): Cessna 120 · Mineral Canyon, UT · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 1, 2009 · N2729N · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's incorrect use of brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
- [NTSB ERA09LA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA407.md): Cessna 120 · Morristown, TN · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 16, 2009 · N7227E · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2071402')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '096' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence?model=2071402

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