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
May 21, 1990	OPA-LOCKA, FL	N76464	Incident	substantial	LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT.
May 03, 1990	PASO ROBLES, CA	N2662N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Apr 10, 1990	CHICO, CA	N76918	Minor	substantial	FUEL STARVATION DUE TO UNPORTING OF THE FUEL PICK UP IN THE FUEL TANK SELECTED FOR THE TAKEOFF.
Mar 04, 1990	BRINKLEY, AR	N90061	Incident	substantial	RECOVERY FROM BOUNCED LANDING NOT PERFORMED AND PORPOISE ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Feb 25, 1990	VANCOUVER, WA	N2197V	Incident	substantial	ENGINE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO MOISTURE DAMAGE TO THE COILS IN THE MAGNETOES. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH … ENGINE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO MOISTURE DAMAGE TO THE COILS IN THE MAGNETOES. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A FENCE WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRPLANE HAD NOT UNDERGONE CURRENT MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND WAS BEING FERRIED FOR MAINTENANCE WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
Dec 02, 1989	CONCORD, CA	N2065N	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES BY THE PILOT. THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Nov 18, 1989	AMBOY, WA	N2070V	Incident	destroyed	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING.
Nov 06, 1989	FAIRBANKS, AK	N5606C	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S FAILURE TO ASSURE CONDITION OF RUNWAY PRIOR TO LANDING AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING LANDING.
Oct 10, 1989	PEORIA, IL	N9658A	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE … INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE TAILWIND, THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES, AND HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Sep 11, 1989	AUSTIN, TX	N9687A	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIDRCRAFT. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Aug 10, 1989	SPARREVOHN, AK	N1118D	Incident	substantial	PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAINED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF. THE MISJUDGED TERRAIN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE EV… PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAINED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF. THE MISJUDGED TERRAIN WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME.
Jul 21, 1989	NYAC MINE, AK	N7G	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL BAR ASSEMBLY AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND THE PILOT'S LACK… FAILURE OF THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL BAR ASSEMBLY AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Jul 01, 1989	BRIDGEPORT, WV	N1975N	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION. FUEL STARVATION OCCURRED BECAUSE OF UNPORTING OF FUEL FROM THE TANK OUTLET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS … THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION. FUEL STARVATION OCCURRED BECAUSE OF UNPORTING OF FUEL FROM THE TANK OUTLET WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A SLIP ATTITUDE SHORTLY BEFORE THE POWER LOSS. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS INADEQUATE INFORMATION IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL CAUTIONING OF THE POTENTIAL UNPORTING OF THE FUEL OUTLET.
Jun 22, 1989	CONYERS, GA	N1875V	Serious (1)	substantial	CARBURETOR ICE AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. CARBURETOR ICING CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Jun 14, 1989	CREVE CEOUR, MO	N89316	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN THE APPROACH AND MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SOD LANDING STRIP. THE PILOT'S INNATTENTION TO THE GRASS STRIP RESULTED … THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN THE APPROACH AND MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SOD LANDING STRIP. THE PILOT'S INNATTENTION TO THE GRASS STRIP RESULTED IN A LANDING IN A SOFT WHEAT FIELD.
May 19, 1989	PLACERVILLE, CA	N76675	Incident	substantial	TOTAL FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR TIRE. A MAJOR FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABILITY OF THE TERRAIN AT THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
May 17, 1989	LINDEN, MI	N4240N	Incident	destroyed	THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING, AND THE RESULTANT HARD TOUCHDOWN.
May 12, 1989	TERRE HAUTE, IN	N77201	Incident	substantial	PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CROSSWIND.
Jan 18, 1989	FARMINGTON, NM	N2652N	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF BRAKES WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.
Jan 09, 1989	AUDUBON, IA	N89867	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.
Dec 26, 1988	CORONA, CA	N89891	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 21, 1988	LAWRENCE, KS	N4190N	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 11, 1988	FAIRFAX, OK	N11191	Serious (1)	substantial	Investigation pending
Oct 02, 1988	QUINTER, KS	N73051	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending
Jun 21, 1988	CLIFTON, TX	N76505	Incident	substantial	Investigation pending

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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