# NTSB LAX94LA094: Cessna 140, N140KT, Warner Springs, CA, January 14, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 1994, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Warner Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.280418, -116.599784 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2804&lon=-116.5998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28637 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28637/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA094 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A CRUISE CLIMB CONFIGURATION WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE POWER LOSS AS A SLOW DECREASE IN RPM'S FOLLOWED BY A 'PULSING AT LOW RPM.' THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE POWER LOSS BY CHANGING THE MIXTURE SETTING AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT. POWER COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE LIP OF A RAVINE. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN THE TANKS, LINES, AND GASCOLATOR BOWL. THE PROPELLER AND IMPACT DAMAGED INTAKE SPIDER MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS THEN STARTED AND RAN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, UP TO 2,000 RPM, UTILIZING THE AIRFRAME FUEL AND IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE CARBURETOR WAS DISASSEMBLED WITH NO INTERNAL ABNORMALITIES NOTED. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 1994, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 140, N140KT, collided with ground obstructions during a forced landing near Warner Springs, California. The forced landing was precipitated by loss of engine power during a climb to cruise altitude. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the personal cross country flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his one passenger incurred minor injuries. The flight originated at the Carlsbad Palomar airport on the day of the mishap about 1145 hours as a flight to Chiriaco Summit, California. The pilot reported that the aircraft was in a cruise climb configuration passing through 6,500 going to an eventual cruise altitude of 7,500 feet when the engine began to loose power. The pilot described the power loss as a slow decrease in RPM's followed by a "pulsing at low RPM." The pilot began a descent and attempted to remedy the power loss by changing the mixture setting and applying carburetor heat. Power could not be restored and the pilot landed in a pasture. During the landing ground roll, the aircraft collided with the lip of a ravine and incurred substantial damage. The UNICOM operator at the Ramona, California, airport reported that they were in radio contact with the aircraft. The radio operator stated the pilot reported that the engine was sputtering and running intermittently prior to quitting altogether. An FAA airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and examined the aircraft. In his report, the inspector stated that fuel was evident in the tanks, lines, and gascolator bowl. No external evidence of catastrophic failure was observed on the exterior of the engine. After recovery of the airplane to a salvage yard, the FAA inspectors continued the examination of the aircraft. The propeller and impact damaged intake spider manifold were replaced. The engine was then started and ran for several minutes, up to 2,000 RPM, utilizing the airframe fuel and ignition system components. After the engine run, the carburetor was disassembled with no internal abnormalities noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N140KT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N140KT-2012-10-11), registration cancelled 2012-10-11, S/N 9125, 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: 9125 - Airframe hours: 4326 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C85-12-F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel J. Moriarty - Registered owner: Daniel J. Moriarty - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 5, 1993, 48 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA - Destination: L77, CHIRIACO SUMMIT, CA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 141 total, 109 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 4 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19940114000419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940114000419A), Jan 14, 1994: Cessna 140, Warner Springs, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on climb. Landed in a pasture. Collided with a ravine. No aircraft or engine defects. Possible carb ice. 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.