# NTSB ERA22LA389: Cessna 140, N76527, Slocomb, AL, August 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 27, 2022, 12:37 local (17:37 UTC) - Place: Slocomb, AL · in the trees at end of runway - Coordinates: 31.10381, -85.628997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1038&lon=-85.6290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA389 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis Following an engine overhaul, the pilot conducted several test flights around the airport traffic pattern. After landing, the airplane was fueled with aviation fuel, and the pilot began another flight. During the takeoff roll, a witness observed that the airplane seemed “sluggish,” and the engine sounded “weak.” The pilot realized the engine was not producing full power but decided it was too late to abort the takeoff. As the airplane approached the top of a 70-ft-tall tree line, the pilot exceeded the critical angle of attack; the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and descended into trees. The airplane came to rest suspended from the tree canopy, and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot was able to egress the airplane and jump to the ground. Postaccident examination of the engine and components, which were extensively damaged by fire, did not reveal evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2022, about 1315 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76527, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Slocomb, Alabama. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after conducting his preflight and engine runup, he departed and flew near the airport for about 1 hour, landed, and checked for leaks as the engine had just been overhauled. He repeated this process “a couple more times” and then refueled the airplane with aviation fuel from several gas containers. A witness, the pilot’s son, reported that during takeoff after the refueling, the takeoff roll seemed “sluggish,” and the engine sounded “weak.” The pilot reported that the “engine wasn’t making good power” but it was too late to abort the takeoff. The witness noted that immediately after rotation during the initial climb, the airplane seemed to be climbing slower than normal as it proceeded west towards a line of trees that were about 70 ft tall. According to the pilot, as he attempted to clear the trees, he felt the airplane stall. Shortly after the airplane reached the top of the trees, the right wing dropped, and the airplane descended into the trees and disappeared from the witness’s view. The witness drove to the tree line and found that the airplane had come to rest in the tree canopy about 30 ft above ground level and that the pilot had egressed the airplane by jumping out as the airplane was catching on fire. According to the airport owner, who was also a mechanic with inspection authorization, he had recently overhauled the airplane’s engine and installed it on the airframe. After the installation of the engine, the mechanic test ran the engine for several hours with no anomalous behavior noted, and the pilot conducted “4 or 5 flights” around the airport with no discrepancies. The mechanic reported that the engine had operated about 5 hours since overhaul when the accident occurred. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and reported that the airplane impacted trees and became suspended about 30 ft off the ground on a heading of about 270° magnetic and 600 ft from the end of the turf runway. The fuel tanks were breached during impact, and a post-crash fire had consumed the cockpit and fuselage while the empennage remained in the trees. The engine was exposed to fire and thermally damaged but remained relatively free from impact damage and was subsequently examined. The carburetor heat was in the off position, and the carburetor parts and components were undamaged and clear of any water or contaminants. All spark plugs were checked and found to be in good condition. Both magnetos were damaged by postimpact fire, and the internal components were destroyed and unable to produce spark. A borescope examination was conducted on all cylinders and revealed no defects or anomalous findings. The weatherat the time of the accident was not conducive to the formation of carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76527](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76527), registered now, S/N 10963, 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 C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10963 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 6141 - Engines: Continental C90 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Malsberger Tim J - Registered owner: Malsberger Tim J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 2022, 5 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 10, 3,300 × 90 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,300 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: DHN, 13 nm away - METAR: KDHN 271700Z 14004KT 10SM FEW020 SCT032 29/24 A3002 RMK AO2 T02890244 ## 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 20220827015319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220827015319A), Aug 27, 2022: Cessna 140, Slocomb, AL, Destroyed. Pilot took off from private Grass air strip, aircraft began to lose power ast it failed to clear tree line and stall straight down into trees where aircraft… ## Other investigations on N76527 (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 NYC69F0386](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC69F0386), Apr 30, 1969: Cessna 140 (N76527), Biddeford, ME, substantial damage ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105810. 35.7 MB in all. - Record of conversation - witness (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14399130&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 23.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15122454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - pilot email statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15127285&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Pilot%20and%20FAA%20Email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - witness statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15127340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Witness_Son%20of%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Interview summary - property owner/mechanic (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15131114&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Property%20Owner%20%26%20Mechanic-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (excerpt) (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 4.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15127920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 5 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15127629&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Accident%20Site%20and%20Aircraft%20Damage-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.