# Accident 20170117000399A: Cessna 140A, Markleeville, CA, January 17, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 17, 2017, 13:45 local time
- Place: Markleeville, CA
- Airport: Alpine County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7169° N, 119.7450° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7169&lon=-119.7450&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5623C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5623C-2020-02-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140A (registry code 2071604, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140A
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,094 total, 34 in this make and model, 116 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170117000399A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT DEPARTED KCXP AT 1300 AND AFTER FUELING AT KMEV, DEPARTED AND WAS PERFORMING AIR WORK SOUTH WEST OF THE AIRPORT.

THE PILOT USES KM45 FOR HIGH ALTITUDE AIRPORT FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AND WANTED TO SEE THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY AFTER A RECENT SNOW STORM.

THE PILOT PERFORMED A LOW PASS OVER RUNWAY 35 AT ABOUT 4 FT. AGL AND AT ABOUT 1800 RPM.

HE THE SLIPPED AIRCRAFT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND; HOWEVER, DURING THIS MANUEVER THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL CONTACTED A FROZEN SNOW BERM CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER COMMING TO REST INVERTED IN ABOUT 8 INCHES OF SNOW.

THE PILOT BELIEVES THAT DUE TO THE DECENDING TERRAIN AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY HE EXPERIENCED A WHITEOUT CONDITION AND A SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL.

## 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 GAA17CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA118), Jan 17, 2017: Cessna 140 (N5623C), Markleeville, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low pass and the subsequent impact with a snow berm, which resulted in a nosed-over.

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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