# NTSB ERA20LA334: Cessna 140, N89476, New Smyrna Beach, FL, September 26, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 26, 2020, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna Beach, FL · Massey Ranch Airpark (X50) - Coordinates: 28.978917, -80.924778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9789&lon=-80.9248&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102038/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102038 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA334 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to depart from a non-suitable surface, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff roll. ## 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) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll from a grass area adjacent the paved runway surface, the airplane’s left main landing gear wheel struck a “muddy pothole.” The airplane’s nose then veered down and to the left and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane subsequently struck a fence, and the right wing impacted a tree substantially damaging it. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89476](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89476), registered now, S/N 8507, 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: 8507 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3748 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 2019, 156 hours before - Departed: X50, Edgewater, FL - Destination: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: X50, Massey Ranch Airpark, runway 36, 4,300 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor, remote, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 729 total, 402 in this make and model, 651 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 2997.00 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 13 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 20200926017949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200926017949A), Sep 26, 2020: Cessna 140, New Smyrna, FL, Substantial damage. On September 26, 2020 pilot attempted a takeoff from the grass along side runway 36 at Massey Ranch Airpark (KX50) in N89476, a CE-140. The takeoff attempt… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102038. 13.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 13.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11490140&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20N89476_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11490278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA334-Rel.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.