20251227018669A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Cessna 140 · Ceres, VA · December 27, 2025

Date: December 27, 2025 · 12:49 local
Place: Ceres, VA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N89884
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA26LA079
Reported as: Cessna 140
Reported engine: Continental C85 series
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2

N89884Registered now · Cessna 140S/N 8929 · Built 1946 Airframe modelCessna 140 Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

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 received weather briefing from foreflight and NWS the morning of 12/27/25. Icing conditions were forecasted six hours from their departure location. PIC decided that they would only fly 2 hours, land, and wait for weather to clear before departing again. About 30 minutes into the flight, the PIC noticed engine RPM drop from 2400-2000. PIC initiated carb heat to clear possible carb ice and started circling to find a spot for an emergency landing. The loss of power caused the PIC to make an emergency landing in a field in Ceres, VA. PIC sustained facial injuries requiring medevac from location. Passenger sustained minor injuries to face.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT RECEIVED WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FOREFLIGHT AND NWS THE MORNING OF 12/27/25. ICING CONDITIONS WERE FORECASTED SIX HOURS FROM THEIR DEPARTURE LOCATION. PIC DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD ONLY FLY 2 HOURS, LAND, AND WAIT FOR WEATHER TO CLEAR BEFORE DEPARTING AGAIN. ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE PIC NOTICED ENGINE RPM DROP FROM 2400-2000. PIC INITIATED CARB HEAT TO CLEAR POSSIBLE CARB ICE AND STARTED CIRCLING TO FIND A SPOT FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE LOSS OF POWER CAUSED THE PIC TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD IN CERES, VA. PIC SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES REQUIRING MEDEVAC FROM LOCATION. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO FACE.

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 ERA26LA079Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCeres, VAThe pilot’s failure to recognize and mitigate carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing.Dec 27, 2025 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N89884 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19751006033729ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Blaine, MNWing lifted drg lndg roll.Oct 6, 1975 · Substantial damage