- Date
- March 11, 2013, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- El Reno, OK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N90047Cessna 140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 24, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130311004119A
- Case key
- 86397
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 pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the check pilot's delayed remedial action.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the pilot, who was being checked out in the airplane, pushed the control yoke forward to lift the tail off the ground. When the tail came up, he lost control, and the airplane ground looped. The check pilot tried to regain directional control, but the airplane went off the runway and flipped over, causing substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported no mechanical preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the private pilot pushed the control yoke forward to lift the tail off the ground. When the tail came up, he lost control and the airplane ground-looped. The flight instructor, who was checking the pilot out in the airplane, tried to regain directional control, but the airplane went off the runway and flipped over causing substantial damage to the airframe. No mechanical issues were reported prior to the loss of control.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90047
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 9105
- Airframe hours
- 3,686
- Engine
- Cont Motor C85 SERIES, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Tailwheel Flight Instruction Plus LLC
- Registered owner
- Tailwheel Flight Instruction Plus LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RQO · El Reno, OK
- Destination
- RQO · El Reno, OK
- Airport
- RQO · El Reno, runway 35, asphalt
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 907 total · 42 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 186 total · 2 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PWA, 18 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 181 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.