# NTSB ANC09CA085: Cessna 140, N72518, Fairbanks, AK, August 20, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 19, 2009, 18:00 local (Aug 20, 2009, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 65, -145.021118 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.0000&lon=-145.0211&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 29, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FAI FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74566/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74566
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA085

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to achieve a proper touchdown point, resulting in an overrun and a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The solo private pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mountaintop airstrip at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. She reported that while landing, she inadvertently touched down beyond her intended touchdown point. Realizing she would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the airstrip, she said she applied heavy braking at the end of the landing roll, but the airplane continued off the end of the airstrip and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The solo private pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a mountaintop airstrip at the completion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. She reported that while landing, she inadvertently touched down beyond her intended touchdown point. Realizing she would be unable to stop the airplane before reaching the end of the airstrip, she said she applied heavy braking at the end of the landing roll, but the airplane continued off the end of the airstrip and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, left wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72518](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72518-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 9688, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 9688
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ajmi Amal R
- Registered owner: Ajmi Amal R
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 2009
- Departed: Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: Fairbanks, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 301 total, 136 in this make and model, 199 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090819048439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090819048439A), Aug 19, 2009: Cessna 140, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Departed chena marina airstrip for a 900 foot long ridgetop strip at about 4000 foot elevation 75 miles NE of Fairbanks, AK with an intermediate stop at van…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74566. 833 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 833 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320488&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.

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