# NTSB MIA99LA169: Cessna 140, N76390, Woodstock, GA, June 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 1999, 20:13 local (Jun 9, 1999, 00:13 UTC) - Place: Woodstock, GA - Coordinates: 34.09972, -84.510131 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0997&lon=-84.5101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46505 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46505/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA169 ## Probable cause a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation because of contaminated fuel, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with a tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, climb - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis After takeoff the airplane's engine began to sputter, at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground (agl), and corrective action by the pilot did not clear the problem. He elected to land in trees instead of straight ahead to avoid hitting wires. The pilot stated that the airplane 'had not flown in a week,' and during the preflight inspection of the airplane he drained the fuel tanks and said, '...some very small bits of junk ( about 3-4 < pin head size) were observed in [the] right tank containing 87 octane fuel. He drained about 1 1/2 pints until fuel ran clear. [The] engine was started on left tank (100 LL) which was full. Right tank noted 1/4 full....' The FAA inspector that examined the wreckage concluded that, '...after review of the aircraft records and extensive conversation with the pilot, it appeared that the aircraft...suffered some fuel contamination seeing how aircraft had been stored for awhile....' ## Factual narrative On June 8, 1999, about 2013 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76390, registered to an individual impacted with trees during a forced landing near Woodstock, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed from the same airport about 30 minutes earlier. The pilot said he had completed his sixth landing, and had taxied back to his house to tell his family he was going to leave the pattern and he would be back before dark. He said he never shut the engine down and was on takeoff when the airplane's engine began to sputter. When the engine started to sputter the flight was at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground (agl). He checked to see that the fuel switch was on the left tank. He pumped the throttle, but the engine did not clear. He elected to land in trees instead of straight ahead to avoid hitting wires. The pilot stated that the airplane "had not flown in a week" before the accident. After a preflight inspection of the airplane he drained the fuel tanks and stated, "...some very small bits of junk ( about 3-4 < pin head size) were observed in [the] right tank containing 87 octane fuel. Drained about 1 1/2 pints until fuel ran clear. Engine was started on left tank (100 LL) which was full. Right tank noted 1/4 full...." According to the FAA inspector's statement, "...after review of the aircraft records and extensive conversation with the pilot, it appeared that the aircraft could have suffered some fuel contamination seeing how aircraft had been stored for awhile...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76390](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76390-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 10811, 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: 10811 - Airframe hours: 5580 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward Kobs & Steven Hill - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 25, 1999, 29 hours before - Departed: 5GA4 - Airport: 5GA4, Air Acres, runway 18, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 720 total, 18 in this make and model, 630 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FTY ## 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 19990608006649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608006649A), Jun 8, 1999: Cessna 140, Woodstock, GA, Substantial damage. Acft engine quit on take-off, and the acft crashed into some trees, other circumstances are unknown. (-23)aircraft accelerated normally on take off. At about… 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.