# Accident 20210605006309A: Cessna 140, Alexandria, MN, June 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2021, 13:46 local time
- Place: Alexandria, MN
- Airport: Chandler Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.8658° N, 95.3947° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8658&lon=-95.3947&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3697V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3697V-2022-02-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-200 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 619 total, 308 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA255) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210605006309A

## Narrative

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

2021-06-05 N3697N, CESSNA 140, FLIPPED OVER WHILE LANDING AT ALEXANDRIA KAXN.

THE PIC HAD GIVEN 5 YOUNG EAGLES INTRODUCTORY FLIGHTS AT AXN WHEN THE GROUP DECIDED TO STOP FURTHER FLIGHTS DUE TO BAD WEATHER MOVING IN, HOWEVER THE PIC SAW THERE WAS 1 MORE YOUNG EAGLE THAT HAD SIGNED UP FOR A FLIGHT. THE PIC MET WITH THE FATHER WHO EXPLAINED THAT HIS SON WAS NOT ABLE TO FLY LAST YEAR BECAUSE HE WAS TOO YOUNG BUT HIS 2 OLDER BROTHERS WERE ABLE TO SO HE FELT LEFT OUT. THE PIC DISCUSSED THE APPROACHING WEATHER WITH THE FATHER AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MAKE THE FLIGHT BECAUSE IT APPEARED THE STORM WOULD PASS THE AIRPORT IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEY WOULD TAKE MORE TIME FLYING IF NECESSARY TO ALLOW THE STORM TO PASS THE AIRPORT.

AFTER 15 MINUTES IN TO THE FLIGHT STAYING BETWEEN ALEXANDRIA AND GLENWOOD THE PIC NOTICED THE WEATHER WAS NOT DEVELOPING AS HE THOUGHT IT WOULD. THE MAIN CELL HAD TRAVELED TO THE EAST WAS CLEARING THE AIRPORT, HOWEVER ANOTHER CELL STRETCHING TO THE SOUTH HAD DEVELOPED AND WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE AIRPORT. IT APPEARED A LOT MORE TIME WOULD BE NEEDED AIRBORNE TO STAY CLEAR OF THE STORM. CONTRADICTORY TO HIS PREFLIGHT PLAN TO STAY AIRBORNE AND LET THE STORM PASS, THE PIC DECIDED TO RUSH IN TO AXN BEFORE THE NEW CELL REACHED THE AIRPORT.

WHILE ON APPROACH TO RUNWAY 13 THE WIND CHANGED DIRECTIONS SO THE PIC CHANGED TO RUNWAY 31. CROSSING THE RUNWAY 31 THRESHOLD HIS AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND HE FLARED TO AVOID CONTACT WITH RUNWAY. WHILE BLEEDING OFF SPEED, PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN WIND GUSTS CAUSED HIM TO BALLOON MULTIPLE TIMES. FINALLY THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH RUNWAY AND IMMEDIATELY THE RIGHT WING RAISED UP, GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT DEPARTING THE RUNWAY ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN.

THE PILOT FREED THE 8 YEAR OLD PASSENGER AND HELPED HIM TO EXIT THE PLANE.  THE PILOT RELEASED HIS HARNESS BUT WAS CAUGHT HANGING UPSIDE DOWN.  THE PASSENGER RE-ENTERED THE AIRCRAFT TO TRY TO ASSIST THE PILOT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO FREE HIMSELF AND EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT SUFFERED A CUT TO HIS FOREHEAD REQUIRING STITCHES, PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED.

DURING A POST-ACCIDENT DISCUSSION WITH THE PILOT HE REFLECTED THAT OTHER OPTIONS TO PREVENT THE ACCIDENT INCLUDED DIVERTING TO ANOTHER AIRPORT TO WAIT OUT THE STORM, REMAINING AIRBORNE CLEAR OF THE STORM AND WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AND PERFORM A GO-AROUND.

## 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 CEN21LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA255), Jun 5, 2021: Cessna 140 (N3697V), Alexandria, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not maintain aircraft and directional control during the landing in variable wind conditions resulting in abnormal contact with the terrain.

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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