Watts-Woodland Airport, Woodland, California

Airport Location:  The Watts Woodland Airport is located 4 miles west of Woodland, California.

Airport History;  The Watts Woodland Airport was founded in 1919 by the Yolo Fliers Club and is possibly the oldest privately owned public use airport in continuous operation in the country.

In 1921 an Aero Exhibition and Race was held at Watts Woodland and was heralded by the Associated Press as "the largest air meet ever held on the Pacific Coast".  At that time Woodland was identified as the first civilian air field in California north of the Tehachapi.

Aviation notables attending the 1921 event included WWI American Ace, Eddie Rickenbacher, Capteain EM Decert, famous French Ace, and Major Atkinson, Commander of Mather Field.

Watts-Woodland Airport Today: 



Airport Services & Amenities: Woodland Aviation; Fuel; Avfuel, Jet, 100LL; Self Service 100LL, Jet 24 hours; Courtesy car; Taxis; Rental cars; Restaurant; Yolo Fliers Club within 1 mile; Lodging; within 5 miles;

Special Events and Attractions:

Airport Area Accident History:

On July 20, 2007, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N531M, collided with terrain following a bird strike near Woodland, California. Atkin Air LLC was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries, and the student pilot was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local area instructional flight departed the Watts-Woodland Airport, Woodland, about 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed.

The CFI stated in a written report that the flight was conducted in preparation for the student pilot's upcoming checkride. On downwind for landing at the Woodland-Watts Airport, and with the student pilot at the controls, a bird impacted the passenger side of the windshield. The windshield collapsed and fragments struck the CFI in the face. The student pilot continued to fly the airplane, but was unable to maintain air speed or altitude, so the CFI took the controls. The CFI applied full power and turned the airplane towards the runway threshold, but was unable to maintain altitude. Unable to make the airport, the CFI warned the student that they were "going in" and asked that he call out the air speed due to his vision being obstructed by blood in his eyes.

The CFI stated that just prior to touchdown he turned the fuel selector switch to the OFF position, and pulled the throttle back to idle. He called for the student pilot to apply full flaps, but before the flaps could be extended the airplane landed in a tomato field. Just after touchdown the nose wheel caught a ploughed furrow, and the airplane nosed over. The CFI then turned off the master and ignition switch, both pilots then exited the airplane. The CFI reported that the field had been recently plowed, and the furrows were deep with moist soil and 2-foot-high tomato plants.

A bird resembling a hawk was later found in the rear of the airplane.
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Accident occurred Friday, July 20, 2007 in Woodland, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/31/2007
Aircraft: Cessna 150M, registration: N531M
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 Uninjured.
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a plowed field following a bird strike to the windshield. While on the downwind leg for landing, a bird struck the passenger side portion of the airplane's windshield. The windshield fragmented and collapsed inward, injuring the flight instructor . The student pilot was not able to maintain the airplane's airspeed or altitude due to the increased drag caused by the missing windshield, so the instructor took over the controls. The instructor's vision was impaired due to blood in his eyes, and he applied full power and turned the airplane towards the runway threshold; however, the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The instructor made a forced landing in a tomato field perpendicular to the furrows and the airplane nosed over. The remains of a large hawk were found in the back of the cockpit.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: An in-flight collision with a bird. A factor in the accident was the deteriorated aircraft performance capability due to the increased drag that made continued flight impossible. ===
Accident occurred Wednesday, November 27, 2002 in Woodland, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/28/2004
Aircraft: Clyde K Carrier Team 1400Z, registration: N9190U
Injuries: 1 Serious.
The airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power and collided with a ditch during a forced landing. About 800 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power and was unable to sustain level flight. With a field below the airplane, the pilot initiated a sharp descent in an effort to make a forced landing. Upon touchdown, he stalled the airplane just before reaching an irrigation ditch. The wood reinforced plywood body of the airplane sustained damage upon impact. After the accident, the pilot conducted an examination of the airplane; he found no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe. He noted that prior to the accident flight he had installed new vented wing fuel caps, which were located in a negative pressure area of the wing. He opined that the low pressure area created a vacuum in the gravity fed fuel tank , restricting fuel flow to the engine, which resulted in a partial loss of power. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the builder/pilot's improper modification of wing fuel caps resulting in the failure of the vent system to adequately compensate for the pressure differential between the fuel tank and the external low pressure area of the wing. This led to the partial loss of engine power in cruise flight due to fuel starvation, and a forced landing. ===
Accident occurred Saturday, April 06, 2002 in Woodland, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2004
Aircraft: Wilson Magnum, registration: N229JW
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
During landing, the pilot touched down hard in a southwesterly direction on the grass airstrip and collapsed the main landing gear and a wing. The pilot indicated that he had increased engine power to attempt to maintain control, but he was not successful. The wind was from the north at 5 knots, with gusts to 15 knots, and he may have been "behind the airplane" during the landing flare.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind condition, and his failure to maintain airplane.
 
Airport Approach / Landing: