# NTSB NYC03LA102: Cessna 140, N72942, Suffolk, VA, May 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 9, 2003, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Suffolk, VA - Coordinates: 36.612499, -76.625274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6125&lon=-76.6253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56962/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudgment of his altitude from the wheat field during the execution of a go-around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - altitude/clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot of the airplane was en route to his home airport when he elected to perform a simulated forced landing over a wheat field. The pilot reported that he reduced power and added carburetor heat. He brought the airplane down to an altitude where the wheels were just above the top of the wheat field, and then he added power for a go-around. The pilot reported that he misjudged his altitude during the go-around, and the wheels made contact with the top of the wheat. The airplane decelerated, sank into the wheat, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no problems with the engine when he added power for the go-around. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2003, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72942, was substantially damaged during a go-around from a simulated forced landing in Suffolk, Virginia. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed his home base, Franklin Municipal-John Beverley Rose Airport (FKN), Franklin, Virginia, and flew to Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Norfolk, Virginia, for maintenance. After the maintenance was completed, he flew to Suffolk Municipal Airport (SQF), Suffolk, Virginia, where he performed three touch and go landings, after which he planned to return to Franklin. En route to Franklin, he saw a large wheat field, and elected to perform a practice approach, simulating a forced landing. The pilot reported that he retarded the power, added carburetor heat, and left the wing flaps retracted. He brought the airplane down to an altitude where the wheels were just above the top of the wheat field. He further stated: "...[that he] misjudged altitude on go around. AC [aircraft] contacted wheat and nosed over...." The pilot reported that as he contacted, the wheat, the airplane decelerated, and continued to sink further into the wheat. The pilot reported that there were no problems with the engine when he added power for the go-around. According to an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent. In addition, the right wing and right wing strut were also bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72942](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72942-2003-08-27), registration cancelled 2003-08-27, S/N 10140, 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: 10140 - Airframe hours: 3269 - Engines: Continental C 85- 12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M Miller - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2002, 11 hours before - Departed: PVG, Hampton Roads, VA - Destination: FKN, Franklin, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight engineer, commercial, private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 7, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 8,550 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: SFQ, 4 nm away ## 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 20030509017649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030509017649A), May 9, 2003: Cessna 140, Suffolk, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 9, 2003, about 1445 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N72942, was substantially damaged due to controlled flight into terrain in the vicinity… 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.