# NTSB SEA97LA187: Cessna 140, N76233, Hillsboro, OR, August 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 13, 1997, 14:27 local (21:27 UTC) - Place: Hillsboro, OR - Coordinates: 45.580169, -122.910964 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5802&lon=-122.9110&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42673/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA187 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis During the landing roll on runway 30, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 140 and departed the left side of the runway, ground looping. He reported that both flight following and the Hillsboro tower advised him of calm winds prior to landing and that during the landing a 'wind gust blew hard to the left.' Wind reports taken at the Hillsboro airport reported calm winds five minutes after the accident as well as throughout the morning and early afternoon hours with the exception of variable winds of 4 and 5 knots at 1350 and 1250 hours respectively. An FAA inspector assigned at the Hillsboro airport reported the weather conditions as a 'sultry day' with calm winds. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 1997, at 1427 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N76233, registered to Barbara L. Baker, and being flown by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control during landing at the Portland- Hillsboro airport, Hillsboro, Oregon. The pilot and his wife were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the flight. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and had departed Eugene, Oregon, at 1230 on the day of the accident. The pilot reported that upon arrival in the Hillsboro area the "wind advisory from both flight following and (the) tower were winds calm, 30 in use." He entered a left base for runway 30, was cleared to land and executed a "normal 3 point landing @ ~ 45 mph" during which a "wind gust blew hard to the left." The pilot further reported that he "tried (sic) to stay on (the) runway" and then "entered a ground loop leaving (the) runway to (the) left." Aviation surface weather observations taken at the Hillsboro airport reported winds as follows: TIME WINDS 1547 calm 1455 calm 1432 calm 1350 variable at 4 knots 1250 variable at 5 knots 1155 calm 1047 calm 949 calm 855 calm 753 calm An Inspector assigned to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office at the Hillsboro airport, and who was on site at the time of the accident reported the weather conditions as a "sultry day" with calm winds. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N76233](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N76233-2014-12-16), registration cancelled 2014-12-16, S/N 10636, 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: 10636 - Airframe hours: 2814 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Baker, Gary, H. - Registered owner: Baker, Barbara, L. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1997, 35 hours before - Departed: EUG, EUGENE, OR - Destination: HIO - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: HIO, Portland-Hillsboro, runway 30, 6,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 213 total, 173 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HIO ## 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 19970813022159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970813022159A), Aug 13, 1997: Cessna 140, Portland, OR, Substantial damage. Aircraft ground looped on landing. (.4)during the landing roll on runway 30, the pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna 140 and departed the left… 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.