# NTSB LAX06CA127: Cessna 140, N89166, Mesa, AZ, March 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 10, 2006, 23:30 local (Mar 11, 2006, 06:30 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.468055, -111.736114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4681&lon=-111.7361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63334/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA127 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of the flight controls during landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during landing. The pilot noted light precipitation in the area and calm winds as he entered the pattern for landing. On short final he noticed a glossy looking runway and encountered light rain drops on the windscreen. He did a wheel landing and as the airplane rolled out, it drifted right of centerline. As he input corrective action for the right drift, he continued to hold the tail wheel off of the ground in order to maintain the best forward visibility. During these corrective actions, the airplane pitched forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot said the airplane did not have any mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative On March 10, 2006, at 2330 mountain standard time, a Cessna 140, N89166, nosed over during the landing roll at Falcon Field Airport, Mesa, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage; the private pilot and one passenger were not injured. The pilot was operating the airplane, that was registered to a private company, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot departed from Phoenix International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, and was landing at his destination when the accident occurred. In the pilot's written statement, he said that upon entering the traffic pattern for landing, he noted light precipitation in the area and calm winds. On short final he noticed a glossy looking runway and encountered light rain drops on the windscreen. He did a wheel landing and as the airplane rolled out, it drifted right of centerline. As he input corrective action for the right drift, he continued to hold the tail wheel off of the ground in order to maintain the best forward visibility. During these corrective actions, the airplane pitched forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane did not have any mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89166](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89166-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 8180, 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: 8180 - Engines: Teledyne Continental C85-12F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Trotter - Registered owner: Falcon Group LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PHX, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field, runway 22L, 5,102 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 315 total, 14 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg ## 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 20060310004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060310004069A), Mar 10, 2006: Cessna 140, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was doing a wheel landing at ffz. He stated that he was trying to keep the tail wheel off the ground as long as possible by moving the stick to the… 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.