# NTSB ERA10CA469: Cessna 140, N3650V, Levant, ME, September 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 6, 2010, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Levant, ME - Coordinates: 44.869445, -68.97583 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8694&lon=-68.9758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77204 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA469 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77204/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77204 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA469 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a witness the airplane touched down and lifted off, but did not appear to gain much altitude. Near the end of the runway, the airplane wavered right and then left before the left wing struck the ground. As a result of the impact, the fuselage, left wing, firewall, and elevator incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that he could not recall the events that transpired during the accident sequence; he reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to a witness, the accident airplane touched down over halfway down the up-sloped, 2,300-foot grass runway 27. It then transitioned to a takeoff, but during the climb, the airplane "wavered left and right" before the left wing struck the ground. The fuselage, left wing, firewall, and elevator incurred substantial damage. The pilot stated that he could not recall the events that transpired during the accident sequence, and did not report that there were any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. A review of the accident airplane's information manual revealed, under the conditions that existed at the time of the accident, that the landing and takeoff distance required was approximately 900 feet, and was based on the use of a "hard surface, level runway." The winds reported at an airport 11 miles to the southeast of the accident location were from 290 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3650V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3650V-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 14921, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14921 - Airframe hours: 1810 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C90 SERIES 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2009 - Departed: BGR, Bangor, ME - Destination: NONE, Levant, ME - Airport: NONE, Griffin Field Leavant, runway 27, 2,300 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: serious; military, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 17, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,896 total, 131 in this make and model, 2,386 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: BGR, 6 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100906054349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100906054349A), Sep 6, 2010: Cessna 140, Levant, ME, Substantial damage. The pilot was attmpting touch and go on a private grass strip in Levant Maine. According to a witness, the aircraft touched down over halfway down the… ## Other investigations on N3650V (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC71FFG04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC71FFG04), Sep 14, 1970: Cessna 140 (N3650V), Norridgewock, ME, substantial damage ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77204. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 774 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Accident Diagram (item 3, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Weather Records: BGR METARs (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Records%3A%20BGR%20METARs-Master.PDF - Airplane Performance Data (item 5, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337448&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Performance%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo #1: Right Side View of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20Right%20Side%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo #2: Front View of Wreckage (Courtesy of Maine State Police) (item 7, .PDF, 653 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%3A%20Front%20View%20of%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20Maine%20State%20Police)-Master.PDF - Photo #3: View From Departure End of Runway (Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%233%3A%20View%20From%20Departure%20End%20of%20Runway%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.