How many accidents has the Cessna 140 had?

The NTSB has recorded 460 events involving the Cessna 140: 35 fatal, 32 serious, 72 minor injuries, and 321 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Cessna 140 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Cessna 140 has 460 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Cessna 140 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 460 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.

460

All Events

321

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (51 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Mar 31, 1992	PALMER, MA	N3047N	Incident	substantial	THE IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE… THE IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT WHICH RESULTED IN A POWER LOSS DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS AND THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO BE AWARE OF THE TEMPERATURE/DEWPOINT SPREAD.
Jan 16, 1992	COLUMBIA, SC	N1976N	Fatal (2)	substantial	THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAI… THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN A CESSNA 140.
Dec 10, 1991	MINNEAPOLIS, MN	N72625	Incident	substantial	REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT PERFORMED BY THE CFI. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE STUDENT PILOT.
Dec 08, 1991	FAIRBURY, NE	N89997	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE AIRPLANE.
Sep 11, 1991	GATES, OR	N76006	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S EXCESSIVE REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE POOR SUPERVISION BY THE CFI.
Aug 23, 1991	WARD, AR	N2559N	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Aug 01, 1991	CADILLAC, MI	N76535	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT BEING MAINTAINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND … IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT BEING MAINTAINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.
Jul 07, 1991	MONTAGUE, CA	N3160N	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE IN THE ENGINE.
Jun 30, 1991	LANCASTER, NY	N89209	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF AN ENGINE EXHAUST VALVE, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND A FORCED LANDING ON UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Jun 10, 1991	KENAI, AK	N81074	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.
May 31, 1991	DEPERE, WI	N4090N	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT A MUSHED STALL DURING LIFTOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
May 08, 1991	REDDING, CA	N140ED	Minor	substantial	THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO BRIEF THE PASSENGER AND THE PASSENGERS INTENTIONAL CONTROL INTERFERENCE.
May 07, 1991	OJAI, CA	N89828	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DOWNDRAFT WEATHER CONDITION.
Apr 09, 1991	EL MIRAGE, CA	N89572	Incident	substantial	THAT THE PILOT MADE A POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO PRACTICE THE SLOW FLIGHT MANEUVER AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND THAT HE FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED.
Mar 17, 1991	PULLMAN, WA	N2455N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE SHORTLY BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING.
Mar 06, 1991	FLAGSTAFF, AZ	N76553	Incident	substantial	THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS AN EXISTING CROSS/TAILWIND.
Jan 13, 1991	SO. SIOUX CITY, NE	N1978V	Incident	substantial	DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY AND A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE… DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY AND A LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE.
Jan 03, 1991	PORT ORCHARD, WA	N77179	Fatal (1)	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AT A TIME THAT LEFT ADEQUATE RUNWAY REMAINING TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP.
Nov 12, 1990	ROANOAKE, TX	N2021N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF FLYING TAIL WHEEL (CONVENTIONAL) GEAR AIRPLANES.
Aug 25, 1990	BLISSFIELD, MI	N2239V	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A UTILITY WIRE.
Aug 17, 1990	SILVER CITY, NM	N3648V	Minor	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FLIGHT IN CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALT… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PLANNING WHICH RESULTED IN A FLIGHT IN CONDITIONS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.
Aug 04, 1990	MIDDLESEX, NY	N76850	Incident	substantial	THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF SPEED AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTE… THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF SPEED AND DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN OVERSHOOTING THE LANDING.
Jun 21, 1990	CHICO, CA	N72122	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IMPROPERLY LEVELED OFF, FAILED TO CORRECT THE ENSUING PORPOISE, TOOK IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION, AND IMPROPERLY USED THE RUDDER AND NORMAL BRA… THE PILOT IMPROPERLY LEVELED OFF, FAILED TO CORRECT THE ENSUING PORPOISE, TOOK IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION, AND IMPROPERLY USED THE RUDDER AND NORMAL BRAKES.
Jun 12, 1990	TARENTUM, PA	N4010N	Incident	substantial	AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AFTER THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON THE RUNWAY AND IMPROPERLY USED THE BRAKES.
May 24, 1990	WASHOUGAL, WA	N72592	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO REMAIN IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. COLLISION WITH A TREE WAS A FACTOR RELA… THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO REMAIN IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. COLLISION WITH A TREE WAS A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Cessna 140 Safety Record

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