# NTSB LAX79FUJ03: Cessna 140, N72930, Mesa, AZ, October 7, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 7, 1978
- Place: Mesa, AZ · MESA, AZ
- Location: 33.4223° N, 111.8226° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mesa, AZ, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4223&lon=-111.8226&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79FUJ03
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79FUJ03

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3112   78/10/7 NR.MESA,AZ            CESSNA 140          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 53, 63 TOTAL
        TIME - 0700                    N72930              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 25 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AVRA VALLEY,AZ              SEDONA,AZ
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- ROAD SIGN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72930](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72930), registered now, S/N 10128 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19781007032759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781007032759A), Oct 7, 1978: Cessna 14/, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. Road sign.

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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