- Date
- November 8, 2017, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Macon, GA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N76238Cessna 140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20171108018389A
- Case key
- 96335
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's incorrect pitch control during takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel-landing touch-and-go in crosswind conditions, as power was applied for takeoff, the airplane "hopped to the right and then to the left." He added that he applied "normal downward pressure to lift the tail and maintain a level attitude," but as he did so, the airplane continued to pitch forward and nosed over on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel landing touch-and-go in crosswind conditions, as power was applied for takeoff, the airplane "hopped to the right and then to the left." He added that he applied "normal downward pressure to lift the tail and maintain a level attitude," but as he did so, the airplane continued to pitch forward and nosed over on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to vertical stabilizer and windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N76238
- Reported as
- Cessna 140 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10641
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 4,270
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Clear Blue Sky Aviation LLC.
- Registered owner
- Clear Blue Sky Aviation LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 2017
- Departed
- MAC · Macon, GA
- Destination
- MAC · Macon, GA
- Airport
- MAC · Macon Downtown, runway 10, 4,694 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Private, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 17, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,200 total · 81 in this make and model · 5,182 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 1.6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- KMCN, 9 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 742 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.