- Date
- August 9, 1989, 19:15 local (Aug 10, 1989, 03:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sparrevohn, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1118DCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 29, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 5236
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Pilot-in-command's failure to maintained directional control of the airplane during takeoff. The misjudged terrain was a contributing factor in the eventual outcome.
Analysis
The pilot stated that during the takeoff ground run he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane nosed over on to its back on the gravel bar.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1118D
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15682
- Airframe hours
- 4,705
- Engine
- Continental C-90-14F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Worrell, Sam
- Registered owner
- Sam Worrell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 28, 1989 · 81 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 587 total · 251 in this make and model · 476 as pilot in command · 81 in the last 90 days · 51 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg