- Date
- June 25, 2023, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cedar Mountain, UT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2358VCessna 140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20230625010749A
- Case key
- 192449
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 decision to depart with a high density altitude, which degraded the airplane’s climb performance and resulted in an impact with trees.
Findings · 3
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
The pilot reported that, during the departure roll, the airplane became airborne at mid field. Shortly after, he felt a “settling sensation” and the airplane did not climb any further. The pilot checked the engine controls to ensure full power was available. Beyond the end of the runway, the airplane struck trees and came to rest between them. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that the temperature at the time of departure was 21° C, and that the airport elevation was 7550 ft msl. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2358V
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14594
- Built
- 1948
- Airframe hours
- 2,464
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12-F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2023 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 41U · Ephraim, UT
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- None · Cedar Mountain air strip, runway 31, 2,000 × 30 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 18, 2023
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,268 total · 315 in this make and model · 2,088 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KPUC, 23 nm away
- METAR
- KPUC 251753Z AUTO 20004KT 10SM CLR 25/M08 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP138 T02501078 10250 20100 58005
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.5 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.