NTSB investigations: Cessna 120

19 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Cessna 120, where the sequence of events included Loss of control on ground. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20112026
NTSB investigations: Cessna 120 per year, 2011–2026: 19 cases
20111
20142
20151
20164
20172
20182
20202
20222
20251
20262

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "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\" = '230' 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"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN26LA323Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedInvestigation openCessna 120 · Llano, TXSep 23, 2026 · N1888N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR26LA106Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Kneeland, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.Feb 20, 2026 · N72904 · Substantial damageNTSB ERA25LA140Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Arcadia, FLThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing.Feb 28, 2025 · N3080N · Substantial damageNTSB WPR22LA336Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Scappoose, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while taxing in gusty wind conditions.Sep 5, 2022 · N77257 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA358Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 120 · Mecosta, MIThe 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.Jul 30, 2022 · N2902N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA317Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Osceola, WIThe pilots did not maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.Jul 17, 2020 · N1926N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20CA182Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Chatham, ILThe pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over.May 15, 2020 · N120MZ · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19LA046Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Beaumont, KSThe 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.Dec 15, 2018 · N2496N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN18CA185Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Harlan, IAThe pilot’s late go-around during a bounced landing, which led to an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.May 16, 2018 · N77273 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA18CA027Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · New Bern, NCThe pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control during landing.Oct 21, 2017 · N72552 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA156Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Orange, MAThe pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a nose-over.Feb 24, 2017 · N77116 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA17CA071Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Lincoln, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.Nov 14, 2016 · N120MD · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16LA525Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 120 · Davis, CAThe 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.Sep 18, 2016 · N76284 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA412Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Belen, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.Aug 3, 2016 · N72580 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA304Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Climax, NCAn 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.Jun 10, 2016 · N77216 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA024Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · McKinney, TXThe pilot's use of excessive brake input during the recovery from the ground loop, which resulted in a nose over.Oct 17, 2015 · N2099V · Substantial damageNTSB WPR14CA192Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Colville, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.May 15, 2014 · N2642N · Substantial damageNTSB ANC14CA024Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Fairbanks, AKThe pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a ground loop.Apr 28, 2014 · N77336 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11CA644Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 120 · Camden, ARThe flight instructor's inadvertent braking during taxi.Sep 12, 2011 · N89954 · Substantial damage