# NTSB ERA14CA195: Cessna 140, N2143N, Colebrook, NH, April 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 10, 2014, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Colebrook, NH - Coordinates: 44.885833, -71.504447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8858&lon=-71.5044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89053 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89053/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89053 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA195 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to power out of soft snow with a gusty quartering tailwind which resulted in the tail of the airplane rising and the airplane nosing over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the private pilot, after landing, a 180 degree turn was required to back taxi on the runway. During the turn, the main landing gear encountered soft snow at the edge of the runway, and began to sink further into the snow. The pilot increased engine power to return the airplane to the center of the runway; however, the tail of the airplane began to rise and the strong quartering tailwind continued to nose the airplane over which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing strut and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported the wind, at the time of the accident, was approximately 220 degrees at 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. He further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the private pilot, after landing, a 180 degree turn was required to back taxi on the runway. During the turn, the main landing gear encountered soft snow at the edge of the runway, and began to sink further into the snow. The pilot increased engine power to return the airplane to the center of the runway; however, the tail of the airplane began to rise and the strong quartering tailwind continued to nose the airplane over which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing strut and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported the wind, at the time of the accident, was approximately 220 degrees at 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. He further reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2143N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2143N), registered now, S/N 12379 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12379 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3681 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 2013, 61 hours before - Departed: 4C4, Colebrook, NH - Destination: 4C4, Colebrook, NH - Airport: 4C4, Gifford Field, runway 04, 2,466 × 75 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 30, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 252 total, 157 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KBML, 23 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 20140410003529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140410003529A), Apr 10, 2014: Cessna 140, Colebrook, NH, Minor damage. Pilot had landed to the south on runway 22 after a local flight, at the end of the runway PIC turned the aircraft on the runway to back taxi to his hanger.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89053. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Email from Pilot on no Mechanical (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20from%20Pilot%20on%20no%20Mechanical-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Berlin Municipal Airport (item 3, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Berlin%20Municipal%20Airport-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Aircraft at Rest (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Aircraft%20at%20Rest-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.