# NTSB ERA24LA180: Cessna 140, N4064N, Holt, FL, April 13, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 13, 2024, 10:02 local (15:02 UTC) - Place: Holt, FL - Coordinates: 30.686375, -86.747632 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6864&lon=-86.7476&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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): 194100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA180 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate during the landing approach, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); 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 The pilot stated that while descending on approach to the runway, he failed to arrest the airplane’s sink rate and descent. This resulted in an impact with terrain approximately 600ft prior to the start of the runway. He reported that the airplane touched down hard and immediately nosed over, resulting insubstantial damage to the engine mounts, empennage, and left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4064N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4064N), registered now, S/N 13512, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 140 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85-12F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-12f) (registry code 17125, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 13512 - Year built: 1947 - Engines: CONTINENTAL MOTORS C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FD93, Yellow River Airstrip, runway 27, 2,550 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 139 total, 48 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: EGI, 11 nm away - METAR: KEGI 131455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 22/03 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP268 T02220028 52012 $ ## 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 20240413003359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240413003359A), Apr 13, 2024: Cessna 140, Holt, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot states that while on short final to the grass strip, he mismanaged his sink rate. As a result, upon touch down, the aircraft bounced and flipped over… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194100. 11.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 10.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17038362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA180%206120%20Combined_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 869 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17039994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA180%20Photo%20Array-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.