# NTSB WPR26LA208: Cessna 140, N4179N, Pasco, WA, June 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 31, 2026, 20:55 local (Jun 1, 2026, 03:55 UTC) - Place: Pasco, WA - Coordinates: 46.264948, -119.1194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2649&lon=-119.1194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2026 - 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): 203109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203109/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203109 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent excessive braking during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 140, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071602), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the normal landing, the airplane bounced and returned to the runway surface. When the landing gear contacted the runway surface, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and left wing lift strut. The pilot was uncertain about his application of the brakes during the landing, however, the passenger reported that the airplane skidded after the main landing gear contacted the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane identified wear marks on the main landing gear tires consistent with braking during the landing roll and revealed that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the main landing gear wheels rotated freely when the airplane was towed from the runway. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently applied excessive braking input during the landing roll. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4179N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4179N), registered now, S/N 13650 (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: 13650 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3704.5 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2025, 14 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PSC, Tri-cities Airport, runway 21R, 7,707 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 163 total, 38 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KPSC - METAR: METAR KPSC 010353Z 16008KT 10SM CLR 23/03 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP186 T02280028 $ ## 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 20260531005499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260531005499A), May 31, 2026: Cessna 140, Pasco, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot and passenger were returning to the airport after a short personal sightseeing evening flight. Pilot entered into a partial traffic pattern for landing… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203109. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20637690&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20636214&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record- mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20754382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Mechanic_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record- summary of leo interviews (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20753908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Summary%20of%20LEO%20Interviews_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport operations report (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 8 photos, 904 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20637775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airport%20Operations%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 6, PDF, 6 pages, 5 photos, 734 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20637700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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. --- 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.