# NTSB investigations: Cessna 140: Loss of control - in flight NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. ## Latest cases - [NTSB CHI04LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA004.md): Cessna 140 · Waterloo, IA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 3, 2003 · N72701 · Substantial damage > The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. A factor associated with the accident was the strong, gusty wind condition. - [NTSB LAX99LA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA076.md): Cessna 140 · Burson, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 17, 1999 · N89513 · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering to avoid an obstacle immediately after takeoff. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate examination of the off-airport takeoff area in order to identify potential hazards. - [NTSB CHI98FA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98FA299.md): Cessna 140 · St. Joseph, MO · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 4, 1998 · N2364V · Destroyed > the pilot not maintaining a proper final approach glide path to avoid an encounter with wake turbulence. A factor in this accident was the pilot not being able to control the airplane after its encounter with wake turbulence. - [NTSB FTW98LA159](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA159.md): Cessna 140 · Norman, OK · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 25, 1998 · N2044N · Substantial damage > The pilot's improper compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a ditch. A contributing factor was the high crosswind. - [NTSB SEA97LA182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA182.md): Cessna 140 · Vancouver, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 4, 1997 · N2076N · Substantial damage > Aircraft control was not maintained. Continued operation with known deficiencies in equipment and movement restrictions to an exhaust valve were factors. - [NTSB LAX97LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA171.md): Cessna 140 · Palo Alto, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 30, 1997 · N2031N · Destroyed > the pilot's failure to obtain and/or maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the degraded climb performance due to an… - [NTSB SEA96LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA105.md): Cessna 140 · Puyallup, WA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 31, 1996 · N72344 · Substantial damage > the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and failure to maintain runway alignment during a go-around. The pilot's improper flare for landing was a related factor. - [NTSB CHI95LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA291.md): Cessna 140 · Mio, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 21, 1995 · N76429 · Destroyed > the pilot's impairment of judgement and performance which led to performing a low altitude maneuver with insufficient altitude for recovery. A factor was the tailwind. - [NTSB NYC93LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA072.md): Cessna 140 · Doylestown, PA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 7, 1993 · N46TM · Substantial damage > Failure of the pilot passenger to maintain adequate airspeed and the failure of the pilot in command to adequately supervise the flight. - [NTSB FTW93FA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93FA080.md): Cessna 140 · Jefferson, TX · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 7, 1993 · N76970 · Destroyed > Inadvertent stall. A factor was the pilot's performance of aerobatics at low altitude - [NTSB CHI92LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92LA136.md): Cessna 140 · Grain Valley, MO · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 28, 1992 · N77205 · Substantial damage > A stall following a downwind takeoff. - [NTSB CHI91LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA177.md): Cessna 140 · Depere, WI · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 31, 1991 · N4090N · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to correct a mushed stall during liftoff. A factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions. - [NTSB LAX91LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA206.md): Cessna 140 · Redding, CA · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 8, 1991 · N140ED · Substantial damage > That the pilot failed to brief the passenger and the passengers intentional control interference. - [NTSB LAX91LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA168.md): Cessna 140 · El Mirage, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 9, 1991 · N89572 · Substantial damage > That the pilot made a poor inflight decision to practice the slow flight maneuver at a low altitude and that he failed to maintain airspeed. - [NTSB MKC89LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA050.md): Cessna 140 · Audubon, IA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 9, 1989 · N89867 · Substantial damage > The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the crosswind conditions. - [NTSB FTW88FA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88FA024.md): Cessna 140 · Bryan, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 8, 1987 · N72137 · Destroyed > The student plt took off at ngt with a passenger aboard. After takeoff, he remained in a left traffic pattern & made a low apch. Witnesses rprtd the plt then entered a rgt pattern, but the acft was lower & slower than normal as it was turning on the 2nd apch… - [NTSB DEN87LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA137.md): Cessna 140 · Sawyer, ND · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 30, 1987 · N1677V · Substantial damage > The commercial plt and his wife were on a cross country flt and were landing for refueling. On final, the acft began an uncommanded left turn as landing flaps were selected. The plt was unable to correct the turn and struck trees short of the private… - [NTSB MKC87LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC87LA101.md): Cessna 140 · Eldon, MO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 8, 1987 · N2559N · Substantial damage > According to the pilot, winds were light prior to the final approach, but a gust of wind picked up the right wing and the aircraft ballooned during the flare, running out of airspeed while in a full-stall/three-point attitude. Upon impact, both main gears… - [NTSB DEN86FA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA207.md): Cessna 140 · Taos, NM · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 25, 1986 · N76541 · Substantial damage > N76541 took off on rwy 04 on a high density altitude day. The acft was seen climbing with the nose high near the departure end of the rwy. The acft just cleared some electrical lines near the end of the rwy and then was observed to descend down to a height… - [NTSB LAX86LA256](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA256.md): Cessna 140 · Pacoima, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 17, 1986 · N89403 · Substantial damage > The plt lost control of the acft during landing. A witness stated that when the acft was about one-fourth of the way down the rwy, it began porpoising and then flipped over on its back. - [NTSB LAX86LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA148.md): Cessna 140 · Rio Linda, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 20, 1986 · N89698 · Substantial damage > On March 20, 1986, a Cessna 140 nosed over in mud after running off runway 17. VMC prevailed at the time. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot stated he was too fast on his approach and ran off the… - [NTSB FTW85FA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA245.md): Cessna 140 · Tioga, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 4, 1985 · N3180N · Destroyed > Witnesses observed the acft apchg from the northwest at an estimated alt of about 100 ft AGL. As it passed their position, the plt rolled into a steep (90 deg) right bank, then roll back out. The witnesses reported that after the acft rolled out of the bank,… - [NTSB NYC85LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC85LA119.md): Cessna 140 · Latrobe, PA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 8, 1985 · N4034N · Substantial damage > The plt reported that during a landing, the acft began to swerve to the right. At about the time he was regaining control, the left gear spring (strut), pn Q441138, failed. Subsequently, the acft went off the rwy & the left wing was damaged. An exam of the… - [NTSB BFO85LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85LA043.md): Cessna 140 · Chesapeake, VA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 6, 1985 · N2034V · Substantial damage > The student plt was making a takeoff from rwy 20 with an estimated 10 kt right x-wind. After about 800 ft of ground run, the acft lifted off at aprx 65 mph. At an alt of about 30 ft, the acft began to settle in a left drift as it flew abeam trees on the right… - [NTSB FTW83LA367](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA367.md): Cessna 140 · Alamagordo, NM · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 7, 1983 · N1866V · Substantial damage > After topping the acft with fuel, the plt took of from the 4200 ft high rwy, toward the mountains. The density alt at that time was about 6700 ft. during the takeoff, the plt rotated at 50 mph, then accelerated in ground effect to 70 mph. He then started to… - [NTSB MKC83FA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83FA165.md): Cessna 140 · Pratt, KS · Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 27, 1983 · N76242 · Destroyed > The acft stalled and crashed in a plowed field during an aerial application flt while dispensing wasp eggs on a corn field. The eggs were carried in plastic tubes in a styrofoam ice chest behind the seat and were transferred by the plt as needed to the… - [NTSB ATL83FKQ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83FKQ02.md): Cessna 140 · New Albany, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Final report · May 10, 1983 · N76379 · Substantial damage > The student plt was instructed to make 1 or 2 landings after returning from a solo cross-country flt. He was unable to recall details of the accident, but his wife was at the airport & was a witness. According to her, the plt made a go-around on his first… - [NTSB ANC83LA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA026.md): Cessna 140 · Near Palmer, AK · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Dec 21, 1982 · N4269N · Substantial damage > Immediately after taking off from a frozen lake, the pilot turned left to parallel a fog bank over the knik river. He stated that while climbing, the engine did not quit, but the propeller lost thrust, and he lost control of the aircraft. He stated that he… - [NTSB MKC82DA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC82DA141.md): Cessna 140 · West Plains, MO · Accident · Minor injuries · Final report · Aug 10, 1982 · N2319V · Substantial damage > The pilot was practicing short field takeoffs and maneuvered to clear a 50 foot barrier. He stalled the aircraft and was unable to recover before impacting the ground, nose and right wing first. ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2071602', '2071603') AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o WHERE o.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND o.aircrafts_position = x.position AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o."occurrenceCode" = 250)) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?model=2071602&occurrence=250 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.