# NTSB SEA84FA102: Cessna 140, N1978N, Lovelock, NV, May 5, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 4, 1984, 20:40 local (May 5, 1984, 03:40 UTC)
- Place: Lovelock, NV
- Coordinates: 40.320686, -118.199363 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3207&lon=-118.1994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39803
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA84FA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39803/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA84FA102

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway edge lights - unavailable (contributing factor)
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12214
- Airframe hours: 2239
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 48; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840504018139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840504018139A), May 4, 1984: Cessna 140, Lovelock, NV, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Pilot was circling airport at night when aircraft stalled and crashed. Pilot may have been searching for airport.

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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