# NTSB ERA25LA304: Cessna 140, N89351, Rangeley, ME, August 8, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2025, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Rangeley, ME
- Coordinates: 44.988905, -70.6574 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9889&lon=-70.6574&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025
- 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): 200804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200804/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200804
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA304

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over.

## 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: 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); 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: 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)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: 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

The solo student pilot stated that while landing, the airplane bounced hard upon touchdown. After the bounce, the airplane veered off the side of the runway into the grass. The pilot tried to gain altitude but was unable, so he "cut" the engine. The airplane hit a bump and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, forward fuselage, tail and engine mount. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89351](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89351), registered now, S/N 8379 (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: 8379
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other
- Airport: 8B0, Stephen A Bean Muni, runway 32, 4,299 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: BML, 33 nm away
- METAR: KBML 081352Z AUTO 00000KT 7SM CLR 24/17 A3029 RMK AO2 SLP255 T02390167 $

## 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 20250808011459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250808011459A), Aug 8, 2025: Cessna 140, Rangeley, ME, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed Rangeley airport (8BO) to perform touch and go's at same airport. PIC stated that upon touchdown on runway 14 at 65 mph aircraft began to…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200804. 2.5 MB in all.

- Memorandum for record - pilot/operator report form solicitation (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19446811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%206120%20solicitation-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19298995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20photographs-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19445664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Statement%20to%20Police-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.