# NTSB DEN08CA026: Cessna 140, N89120, Poultney, VT, November 5, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 4, 2007, 19:00 local (Nov 5, 2007, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Poultney, VT
- Coordinates: 43.349998, -73.233329
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3500&lon=-73.2333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67073
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67073/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA026

## Probable cause

The pilot's attempt to land on an unimproved airstrip resulting in a ground loop/swerve.  Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's poor judgement in attempting to land on an unsuitable runway and the unsuitable runway conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

The pilot told an FAA inspector that he was constructing a runway on his property and was anxious to "try it out."  When the airplane landed, the right wheel struck a rock and the airplane ground looped to the right.  The pilot tried to recover and the airplane ground looped to the left.  It eventually went down into a ditch.  Both wings were crushed and the engine was pushed back into the cockpit.  The FAA inspector said the runway was in no condition to accommodate aircraft.

## Factual narrative

The pilot told an FAA inspector he was constructing a runway on his property and was anxious to "try it out."  When the airplane landed, the right wheel struck a rock and the airplane ground looped to the right.  The pilot tried to recover and the airplane ground looped to the left.  It eventually went down into a ditch.  Both wings were crushed and the engine was pushed back into the cockpit.  The FAA inspector said the runway was in no condition to accommodate aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89120](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89120-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 8128, 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: 8128
- Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard G. Coltey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DDH, Bennington, VT
- Destination: NONE, Poultney, VT
- Airport: NONE, Coltey

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 450 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20071105831699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071105831699A), Nov 5, 2007: Cessna 140, Pultney, VT, Substantial damage. (-23) On initial landing at a newly prepared prival runway, the tailwheel struck a large rock, which caused the tailwheel mount rivets to fail. The tailwheel…

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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