# Accident 20250209000749A: Cessna C-140, Salome, AZ, February 9, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 9, 2025, 10:18 local time
- Place: Salome, AZ
- Airport: Indian Hills Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7488° N, 113.6240° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7488&lon=-113.6240&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4185N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4185N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA C-140
- Reported engine: CONTINENTAL C-85
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 890 total, 295 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250209000749A

## Narrative

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

UPON RETURNING TO 2AZ1 AIRSPACE AND TURNING BASE FOR RUNWAY 26, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE PILOT SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICING AND IMMEDIATELY APPLIED CARB HEAT. MOMENTARILY, THE SPUTTERING STOPPED, BUT THE ENGINE SOON FAILED COMPLETELY.

WHILE TURNING FINAL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MISALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE AND LOSING SPEED AND ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY, STRIKING THE TOPS OF TREES. AS IT CONTINUED DOWNWARD, THE LEFT WINGTIP HIT TALL, STATIONARY FENCE POSTS, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, SHEARING OFF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. BOTH WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE BEFORE AND AFTER THE GROUND IMPACT. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH WAS IN THE "BOTH" POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 WPR25LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA099), Feb 9, 2025: Cessna 140 (N4185N), Salome, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.

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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