# NTSB NYC96LA132: Cessna 140A, N3788V, Edinboro, PA, June 26, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1996, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Edinboro, PA
- Coordinates: 41.87981, -80.169403 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8798&lon=-80.1694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39200
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA132
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39200/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA132

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent nose over.  The tailwind was a related factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The pilot was on his first flight to this private airstip. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard and nosed over. According to the pilot, he 'spent about one-half hour locating the field . . . made a low pass to inspect runway, then flew pattern to land. I had been advised runway was uphill to the east, so landed with slight quartering tailwind. I was high on approach, so I side-slipped to lose altitude. When I kicked the airplane out of the slip. I had insufficient airspeed to totally arrest descent, and landed very hard and flipped over.'  The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On June 28, 1996, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140A, N3788V, landed hard and nosed over during landing at a private field at Edinboro, Pennsylvania.  The private pilot and passenger were not injured.  The flight originated in Meadville, Pennsylvania at 1400.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot was on his first flight to this private field.  According to the pilot, he "spent about one-half hour locating the field . . . made a low pass to inspect runway, then flew pattern to land.  I had been advised runway was uphill to the east, so landed with slight quartering tailwind.  I was high on approach, so I side slipped to lose altitude.  When I kickedthe airplane out of the slip.  I had insufficient airspeed to totally arrest descent, and landed very hard and flipped over."

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction.  He stated the accident could have been prevented if he had performed a go-around.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3788V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3788V), registered now, S/N 15209, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 140A
- Registry model: [Cessna 140A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140a) (registry code 2071604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15209
- Airframe hours: 3807
- Engines: Continental C-90-14 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Michele Vida
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1996, 34 hours before
- Departed: 2G6, MEADVILLE, PA
- Destination: PN06
- Airport: 97PA, Willow, runway 11, 2,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,700 total, 1,614 in this make and model, 2,670 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19960626046969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960626046969A), Jun 26, 1996: Cessna 140A, Edinboro, PA, Substantial damage. (-16) Pilot stated slipped airplane on final approach to lose altitude. Did not recover in time. Hit hard and flipped over on it's back.

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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