- Date
- January 9, 2010, 08:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Chico, CA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3160NCessna 140
- Defining event
- Initial climb: VFR encounter with IMC
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100109026179A
- Case key
- 75253
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadequate weather evaluation and failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering in low visibility conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
About an hour prior to the flight the pilot checked the surface observation report for the nearest airport, which was about 5 miles to the northeast. He stated that it indicated an indefinite ceiling of 200 feet and visibility of 3 miles with fog and ground fog. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for the same airport was issued at the approximate time of the accident and reported, in part, winds from 130 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 1 3/4 miles with mist, and skies with a 200-foot indefinite ceiling. The pilot stated that the visibility was good on the ground. As the airplane took off and climbed, he realized that the visibility went to zero. He turned around, attempting to get back to the airport, and he descended to get low enough under the fog to see the airport. There were trees on the east side of the airport, and he tried to stay above them while looking for the runway. He was on left downwind for runway 14 and turning base when the right wing hit a branch and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The right wing and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine.
Factual narrative
About an hour prior to the flight, the pilot checked the surface observation report for nearby Chico (KCIC) Municipal Airport, which was about 5 miles to the northeast. He stated that it indicated an indefinite ceiling of 200 feet and visibility of 3 miles with fog and ground fog. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for KCIC was issued at the approximate time of the accident. It stated: winds from 130 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 1 3/4 miles, mist; skies 200-foot indefinite ceiling; altimeter 30.25 inches of mercury. The pilot stated that the visibility was good on the ground. As the airplane took off and climbed, he realized that the visibility went to zero. He turned around and tried to get back to the airport. He descended to try and get low enough under the fog to see the airport. There were trees on the east side of the airport, and he tried to stay above them while looking for the runway. He was on left downwind for runway 14 and turning base. The right wing hit a branch, and the airplane went down. The right wing and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3160N
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13418
- Airframe hours
- 2,139
- Engine
- Teledyne Continental Motors C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Samuel D McGowan
- Registered owner
- Samuel D McGowan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 7, 2009 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- O23 · Chico, CA
- Destination
- WLW · Willows, CA
- Airport
- O23 · Ranchaero
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 13, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 425 total · 201 in this make and model · 332 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft indefinitevv
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- KCIC, 4 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3160N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.