# NTSB CHI93LA358: Cessna 140, N89467, Trenton, IL, September 5, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1993, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Trenton, IL
- Coordinates: 38.599613, -89.680023 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5996&lon=-89.6800&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9310
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA358
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9310/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA358

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER OF THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING ON A SOD STRIP TYPICALLY USED BY ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANES.  DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On September 5, 1993, about 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N89467, nosed over during landing on a sod strip near Trenton, Illinois.  The solo commercial pilot reported no injury.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight.  The flight originated from Centralia, Illinois, about 0930 without a flight plan and operated under 14 CFR 91.

The pilot reported he landed on a sod strip typically used by ultralight airplanes.  During the landing roll he lost directional control.  The airplane veered left and went off the left side of the runway.  The airplane encountered soybean plants  adjacent to the runway's edge and nosed over.

No preimpact mechanical anomalies were claimed or discovered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89467](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89467), registered now, S/N 8499, 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: 8499
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jerry A. Wacker
- Registered owner: Jerry A. Wacker
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 5, 1993, 49 hours before
- Departed: ENL, CENTRALIA, IL
- Destination: NONE
- Airport: Ultralight Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 27 in this make and model, 2,641 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19930905034389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930905034389A), Sep 5, 1993: Cessna 140, Trenton, IL, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing on a sod ultra light strip. Ran off runway into soybean plants.

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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