20240703008869A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 140 · Laramie, WY · July 3, 2024

Date: July 3, 2024 · 09:15 local
Place: Laramie, WY
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3043S
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR24LA224
Reported as: Cessna 140
Reported engine: Continental C85-12F
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 725 total725 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days

N3043SRegistered now · Cessna 140S/N 12709 · Built 1947 Airframe modelCessna 140 Engine modelContinental C85-12FReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot switched fuel selector to the off position instead of the opposite fuel tank. He was at 300 feet altitude and didn't have time to switch the selector back to a proper tank. Landed in a wet area and the aircraft flipped over on its back causing substancial damage. Not injuries.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT SWITCHED FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OFF POSITION INSTEAD OF THE OPPOSITE FUEL TANK. HE WAS AT 300 FEET ALTITUDE AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SWITCH THE SELECTOR BACK TO A PROPER TANK. LANDED IN A WET AREA AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK CAUSING SUBSTANCIAL DAMAGE. NOT INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR24LA224Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHarmony, WYA total loss of engine power as a result of the pilot's inadvertent placement of the fuel selector to the "off" position.Jul 3, 2024 · Substantial damage