# NTSB LAX01LA044: Cessna 140, N2154V, Sacramento, CA, November 17, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 17, 2000, 15:51 local (23:51 UTC)
- Place: Sacramento, CA
- Coordinates: 38.510459, -121.489097 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5105&lon=-121.4891&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50653
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50653/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA044

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing rollout.

## 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, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

During the landing rollout, the tail wheel began to vibrate.  The shaking was at a slow rate initially, and then became progressively worse.  The pilot stated that he attempted to ease off on the elevator pressure, but lost directional control in the process and the airplane swerved to the right.  The airplane ground looped and departed the runway.

## Factual narrative

On November 17, 2000, at 1551 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140, N2154V, veered off the runway and bent a wing tip and a main gear strut during landing at Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, California.  The airplane, operated by Carter Flygare, Inc., and rented by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage.  The private pilot was not injured.  The local personal flight departed Sacramento Executive about 1445.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated he flew to nearby Franklin Airport to practice landings.  He made several full stop landings and several touch-and-go landings.  He returned to Sacramento Executive for a full stop landing.  During the rollout, the tail wheel began to vibrate.  The shaking was at a slow rate initially, and then became progressively worse.  He stated that he attempted to ease off on the elevator pressure, but lost directional control in the process and the airplane swerved to the right.  The airplane ground looped and departed the runway.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2154V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2154V-2004-04-05), registration cancelled 2004-04-05, S/N 14383, built 1948 (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: 14383
- Airframe hours: 8326
- Engines: Continental C-85-12F 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Carter Flygare, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 13, 2000, 47 hours before
- Departed: SAC
- Airport: SAC, Sacramento Executive, runway 20, 5,503 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 433 total, 58 in this make and model, 331 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 135 °F, dew point 86 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAC

## 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 20001117039459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001117039459A), Nov 17, 2000: Cessna 140, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that after landing on runway 20 at Sacramento Executive Airport, Sacramento, CA, he experienced a bad shimmy. As he eased the control…

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.