# NTSB WPR23LA168: Cessna 140, N140D, Nyssa, OR, April 26, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 25, 2023, 19:00 local (Apr 26, 2023, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Nyssa, OR · uncharted home strip
- Coordinates: 43.77461, -117.0315 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7746&lon=-117.0315&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107154/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107154
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA168

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed on takeoff that resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Cessna 140, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane “seemed to lift off ok”, however, within a few seconds, the left wing stalled and impacted trees. During the accident sequence, the airplane descended into bushes and came to rest on its nose. Both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N140D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N140D), registered now, S/N 8395, 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: 8395
- Year built: 1946
- Airframe hours: 3107.3
- Engines: Lycoming O-290-D-2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Unknown
- Last inspection: Annual, November 28, 2019
- Airport: none, home-unregistered

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 2 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KONO, 14 nm away
- METAR: METAR KONO 260053Z AUTO 35005KT 10SM CLR 20/01 A3009

## 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 20230425006189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230425006189A), Apr 25, 2023: Cessna 140, Nyssa, OR, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff left wing hit tree, aircraft rolled left and crashed.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107154. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA168_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15549357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA168%20_%20photos_508-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� written statement, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15555679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20S.Conant_Redacted-Rel.pdf

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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