# Accident 19990117000599A: Cessna 140, Burson, CA, January 17, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 1999, 12:45 local time
- Place: Burson, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.1993° N, 120.8892° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1993&lon=-120.8892&mi=10
- Aircraft: N89513, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89513-2001-09-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Reported engine: AMTR O200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 529 total, 29 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990117000599A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT LANDED IN FIELD AND CRASHED NOSE FIRST. (.19) ON JANUARY 17, 1999, AT 1245 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 140, N89513, STRUCK A POWER LINE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT FIELD, NEAR BURSON, CALIFORNIA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING ON THE DIRT FIELD. AFTERWARD HE RESTARTED THE ENGINE BY SWITCHING THE FUEL SELECTOR TANK POSITION. HE DID AN ENGINE RUN-UP, NOTED NO ABNORMALITIES, AND INITIATED THE TAKEOFF.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (.4) THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING CRUISE THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING IN A DIRT FIELD. AFTER LANDING, HE EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT, FOUND NO PROBLEMS, RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONDUCTED A RUN-UP WITHOUT DISCREPANCIES.  HE TOOK OFF AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL WHEN HE SAW A POWER LINE DIRECTLY AHEAD AND MADE A STEEP LEFT TURN TO AVOID THE WIRES.  HE SAID THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED DURING THE TURN AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.  THE AIRCRAFT AND FUEL WERE EXAMINED ON SCENE WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED.

## 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 LAX99LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA076), Jan 17, 1999: Cessna 140 (N89513), Burson, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to avoid an obstacle immediately after takeoff. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate examination of the off-airport…

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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