# NTSB FTW94LA062: Cessna 140, N89036, Espanola, NM, January 2, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 2, 1994, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Espanola, NM
- Coordinates: 36.000095, -106.060913 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0001&lon=-106.0609&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18985
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA062
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18985/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA062

## Probable cause

WAS THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  A FACTOR WAS THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, THE STUDENT PILOT MADE THREE GOOD LANDINGS. ON THE FOURTH LANDING, AS THE AIRPLANE STARTED ITS LANDING ROLL, IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ONTO ROUGH TERRAIN, AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE INSTRUCTOR APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT.

## Factual narrative

On January 2, 1994, at 1030 mountain standard time, a Cessna 140, N89036, was substantially damaged during landing at San Juan Pueblo Airport, Espanola, New Mexico.  The student pilot and flight instructor were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight.

The instructor pilot reported that the student pilot made "three good landings."  She further reported that on the fourth landing, the airplane was straight, power was off, yoke was back, and the airplane touched down softly.  Almost as soon as the airplane started its landing roll, it veered to the right, departed the runway onto rough terrain, and came to rest in a ditch.  The instructor applied full left rudder, but it had no effect.  The instructor pilot could offer no reason why it veered right.

Examination of the aircraft revealed no mechanical or structural failures that could have caused the loss of directional control.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89036](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89036-2017-11-21), registration cancelled 2017-11-21, S/N 8040, 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: 8334
- Airframe hours: 3190
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas, Marilyn / Hyer, Ron
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Provisional (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 29, 1993, 107 hours before
- Departed: LAM, LOS ALAMOS, NM
- Airport: Q14, Espanola, runway 34, 4,995 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,725 total, 22 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAM, 20 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 19940102000169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940102000169A), Jan 2, 1994: Cessna 140, Espanola, NM, Substantial damage. Student lost control landing. Veered off runway into a ditch. CFI unable to correct swerve. No mechanical problems

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.

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