# NTSB DEN81FTC11: Cessna 140, N72917, Wapiti, WY, March 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 14, 1981
- Place: Wapiti, WY · WAPITI, WY
- Location: 44.4686° N, 109.4377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wapiti, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4686&lon=-109.4377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126626
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FTC11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FTC11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3260  81/3/14    WAPITI,WY           CESSNA 140          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 59, 500
        TIME - 1400                    N72917              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 220 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLYING SKYTEL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WAPITI,WY                   CODY,WY
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FAILED TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY
        REMARKS- WITNESS STDD ACFT DPTD 6000FT DIRT STRIP APPROX 1100FT FM DEPARTURE END,CLMBD 100FT,BNKD SHARPLY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72917](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72917), registered now, S/N 10111 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Flying Skytel

## 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 19810314009399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810314009399A), Mar 14, 1981: Cessna 140, Wapiti, WY, Destroyed. Took off on last third of runway. Stalled airplane in steep bank after takeoff.

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.