Cessna 120 N72904

Summary

On 20 February 2026 at about 16:57 local time, a Cessna 120 registered N72904 was involved in an accident near Kneeland, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 February 2026 at 16:57

Classification

Accident

Location

Kneeland, California, United States

Nearest airport

Kneeland (O19)

Coordinates

40.7182, -123.9271

Aircraft

Cessna 120

Registration

N72904

Category

Airplane

Year built

1946

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eureka → Eureka

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR26LA106

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing roll on a snow-covered runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during touchdown on a snow-covered runway, he reduced engine power to idle shortly after touchdown. Subsequently, the airplane rapidly decelerated and the tail began to rise. The pilot maintained full aft yoke; however, the airplane nosed over and came to rest on the runway, inverted. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot added that prior to landing, he conducted a low pass over the runway, and thought the snow was only a few inches deep, however, following the accident, he estimated the snow was about 5 to 6 inches deep. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.