- Date
- May 4, 1984, 20:40 local (May 5, 1984, 03:40 UTC)
- Place
- Lovelock, NV
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1978NCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19840504018139A
- Case key
- 39803
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt had originally requested a wx briefing at 0444 for a flt from cheyenne,WY to loverlock,NV. Prior to departing cheyenne at 0630, the FBO told the plt that the Lovelock arpt was flooded. The plt replied he would land at a strip in town. Fuel receipts showed the acft was refueled on 5/4/84 at rawlings, WY; evanston, WY; wendover, UT; & winnemucca, NV. At about 2030, the owner of the private strip heard the acft fly over & turned on a red beacon atop his residence. He observed the acft pass over the strip at about 200 ft AGL, proceeding east, with sounds of reduced power. He saw the lights of the acft initiate an apparent left turn, then plunge to the ground. The acft impacted in a steep descent. No preimpact, mechanical malfunction or failure was found. A toxicological test of the plt's blood revealed only a low level of carbon monoxide (8%). A witness estimated that the wind was from 250 deg at 15 gusting 20 KTS. The acft had landed at this strip several weeks prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1978N
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12214
- Airframe hours
- 2,239
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12-F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Roland W. Coulson
- Registered owner
- Richard A. Coulson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 23, 1983 · 76 hours before
- Departed
- WMC · Winnemucca, NV
- Airport
- Lovelock Air Park
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 534 total · 488 in this make and model · 501 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 250° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.