- Date
- August 4, 1995, 20:50 local (Aug 5, 1995, 00:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mecosta, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N74PBCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950804022079A
- Case key
- 9978
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 student's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and the pilot-in-command's (CFI) inadequate remedial action.
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.
Analysis
While on short final, the student allowed the airspeed to deteriorate. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane with control inputs and the addition of power. The airplane descended and landed hard to the left of the runway collapsing the right gear.
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1995, at 2050 eastern daylight time,a Cessna 140, N74PB, registered to Air Care Ministries of Scotts, Michigan, and piloted by a dual student and flight instructor, landed hard to the left of runway 9 (2,042' x 100' dry/turf) at Mecosta Morton Airport, Mecosta, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The student received minor injuries and the instructor pilot reported no injuries. The dual instructional 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed Evart, Michigan, at 1948.
The instructor stated that the student allowed the airspeed to deteriorate while on short final. He then attempted to take control with control inputs and the addition of power. The airplane descended from approximately 15 to 20 feet above ground level and landed hard, first on the right wingtip followed by the right main landing gear, which collapsed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74PB
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10681
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Air Care Ministries
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 9C8 · Evart, MI
- Destination
- 0C5
- Airport
- 27C · Mecosta Morton, runway 9, 2,042 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 1,260 total · 162 in this make and model · 1,168 as pilot in command · 92 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MKG, 52 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.