# NTSB CEN25LA055: Cessna 140, N2933N, Pearland, TX, November 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 30, 2024, 14:58 local (20:58 UTC) - Place: Pearland, TX · Runway 14 - Coordinates: 29.521278, -95.242139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5213&lon=-95.2421&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Houston FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195576/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195576 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA055 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot that resulted in a loss of directional control during landing, and the excessive use of wheel brakes to regain directional control which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [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) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 flight instructor and student were conducting an instructional flight in the tailwheel airplane when it veered left shortly after a three-point landing. The flight instructor applied right rudder pedal input and kept the elevator control full aft, but the airplane continued to swerve left. The flight instructor was able to regain directional control after he applied right brake, but the airplane then slowly nosed over on the runway. The upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged when they struck the runway. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. The student pilot was uncertain if he removed his feet from his rudder pedals and toe brakes after the flight instructor took control of the airplane. Based on the available information, it is likely that an excessive use of wheel brakes was used to regain directional control which resulted in the airplane nosing over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2933N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2933N), registered now, S/N 12753, 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: 12753 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 2392 - Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Welch Aviation Services LLC - Registered owner: Welch Aviation Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2024, 5 hours before - Departed: LVJ, Pearland, TX - Airport: LVJ, Pearland Regional Airport, runway 14, 4,313 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 21, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,575 total, 22 in this make and model, 13,510 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: LVJ - METAR: METAR KLVJ 302053Z AUTO 08007KT 10SM OVC080 16/11 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP235 T01610106 56024= ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241130018119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241130018119A), Nov 30, 2024: Cessna 140, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. On November 30, 2024, I was instructing [privacy data omitted] in his Cessna 140, [privacy data omitted] at klvj airport. [privacy data omitted] Occupied the… - [Accident 20241130021139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241130021139A), Nov 30, 2024: Cessna 140, Pearland, TX, Substantial damage. After completing 5 patterns, practicing crosswind techniques, crabbing and cross controlling, we decide to make a full stop. It was a normal pattern, flare and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195576. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18143653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18143420&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Flight%20Instructor%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18143663&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Student%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Meteorological data (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18143430&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Meteorological%20Data-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18143083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.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. --- 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.