# NTSB CEN13CA345: Cessna 140, N2054V, Minot, ND, June 7, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 7, 2013, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Minot, ND
- Coordinates: 48.415554, -101.35778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4156&lon=-101.3578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87182
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA345
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87182/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87182
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA345

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed 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)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot was performing a takeoff on a soft grass runway. The pilot reported the takeoff roll seemed to take longer than he anticipated. After rotation, the airplane began to drift to the left and the pilot compensated with applying right rudder. The pilot then noticed the airplane was approaching the end of the runway and power lines. According to the pilot, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot was performing a takeoff on a soft grass runway. The pilot reported the takeoff roll seemed to take longer than he anticipated. After rotation, the airplane began to drift to the left and the pilot compensated with applying right rudder. The pilot then noticed the airplane was approaching the end of the runway and power lines. According to the pilot, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2054V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2054V-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 14267, built 1947 (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: 14267
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Minot, ND
- Destination: Minot, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20130607010349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130607010349A), Jun 7, 2013: Cessna 140, Glenburn, ND, Destroyed. On June 7, 2013, at approximately 1630, a Cessna 140 owned by [privacy data omitted] was involved in a takeoff/climbout accident during a part 91 flight. VFR…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87182. 478 KB in all.

- Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%0D%0A-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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