# NTSB LAX97LA273: Cessna 140, N76102, Pacoima, CA, August 6, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1997, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA
- Coordinates: 34.249809, -118.410949 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2498&lon=-118.4109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29863
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29863/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA273

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing.

## 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
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

After landing the pilot attempted to correct his runway alignment.  He raised the tail for better control of the aircraft and ground looped to the left, then subsequently nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On August 6, 1997, at 0945 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76102, ground looped during the landing rollout on runway 12 and nosed over at the Whiteman Airport, Pacoima, California.  The aircraft sustained substantial damage.  The pilot/owner and passenger were not injured.  Visual meterological conditions existed for the local personal flight and no flight plan was filed.  The flight originated from the Whiteman Airport at 0920.

An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Van Nuys, California, Flight Standards District Office, reported that on the landing rollout the pilot attempted to correct his runway alignment and raised the tail for better control, and that the pilot may have "touched brakes."  The aircraft ground looped to the left and nosed over, coming to rest on it's back.  An FAA inspector examined the aircraft and no mechanical discrepancies were found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N76102](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76102), registered now, S/N 10499, 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: 10499
- Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Solomon A. Bruck
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: WHP, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman, runway 12, 4,120 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 850 total, 820 in this make and model, 810 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: WHP

## 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 19970806023319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970806023319A), Aug 6, 1997: Cessna 140, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. Landing raised tail for better control. May have hit brakes. Ground looped. Nosed over. No mechanical anomalies. (.19) on August 6, 1997, at 0945 hours pacific…

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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