Cessna 140 Safety Record
Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 460 events recorded from 1982 to 2026.
| Date | Location | Reg# | Severity | Damage | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2022 | Winterville, NC | N2509N | Minor | substantial |
The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in …The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the instructor’s delayed remedial action which resulted in an inability to recover the airplane from an aerodynamic stall. |
| Aug 27, 2022 | Slocomb, AL | N76527 | Serious (1) | substantial | The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined. |
| Jun 27, 2022 | Prescott, AZ | N2809N | Incident | substantial | The pilot receiving instructions failure to maintain directional during the takeoff ground roll and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision. |
| May 20, 2022 | Wayne, NE | N76075 | Fatal (1) | destroyed |
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on final approach while conducting traditional short takeoff and landing operations …The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack on final approach while conducting traditional short takeoff and landing operations in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin from which the pilot could not recover. Contributing to the accident was the competitive environment, which likely influenced the pilot’s approach speed and the subsequent loss of control. |
| May 14, 2022 | Estancia, NM | N76190 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s decision to land on an unsuitable surface which resulted in his loss of aircraft control. |
| Feb 28, 2022 | Kokomo, IN | N72831 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s decision to perform the takeoff on the soft, wet, turf runway, with the tailwheel equipped airplane, which resulted in a nose-over. |
| Feb 11, 2022 | New Bern, NC | N2509N | Incident | substantial | The loss of brake pressure on the left brake due to a failed O-ring seal. |
| Aug 13, 2021 | Greenville, IL | N77365 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi which resulted in a ground loop. |
| Jul 26, 2021 | Murfreesboro, TN | N72129 | Serious (1) | substantial | A total loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing. |
| Jul 25, 2021 | Bloomsburg, PA | N76596 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain. |
| Jul 22, 2021 | Caddo Mills, TX | N84BC | Incident | substantial |
The missing vertical stabilizer hardware, which resulted in a severe uncommanded yawing motion that necessitated an emergency landing, during which th…The missing vertical stabilizer hardware, which resulted in a severe uncommanded yawing motion that necessitated an emergency landing, during which the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. |
| Jun 05, 2021 | Alexandria, MN | N3697V | Minor | substantial |
The pilot did not maintain aircraft and directional control during the landing in variable wind conditions resulting in abnormal contact with the terr…The pilot did not maintain aircraft and directional control during the landing in variable wind conditions resulting in abnormal contact with the terrain. |
| May 29, 2021 | Fields, OR | N89257 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing |
| Apr 26, 2021 | Anchorage, AK | N77219 | Incident | substantial |
The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel which resulted in fuel starvation and total loss of engine power during a go-around. Contributing to the accident wa…The pilot’s mismanagement of fuel which resulted in fuel starvation and total loss of engine power during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the improperly marked fuel quantity gauges that failed to indicate a fuel quantity takeoff limitation. |
| Apr 25, 2021 | Palmer, AK | N1685V | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing and his excessive braking which resulted in a nose-over. |
| Apr 16, 2021 | Williams, AZ | N2506N | Fatal (2) | substantial | The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation shortly after takeoff in night visual meteorological conditions. |
| Oct 30, 2020 | Edinburg, TX | N76933 | Incident | substantial | The collapse of the airplane’s left main landing gear for a reason that could not be determined based upon the available evidence. |
| Sep 26, 2020 | New Smyrna Beach, FL | N89476 | Incident | substantial | The pilot’s decision to depart from a non-suitable surface, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff roll. |
| Aug 18, 2020 | Olustee, OK | N2207N | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from the middle of the runway in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway e…The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from the middle of the runway in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. |
| Jul 28, 2020 | Abbotsford, CA | C-GOFK | Fatal (1) | — | Investigation pending |
| Jul 18, 2020 | Arlington, TX | N140AB | Incident | substantial |
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a forced landing with a quartering tailwind, following a partial loss of engine power due t…The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a forced landing with a quartering tailwind, following a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. |
| May 26, 2020 | Appleton, WI | N90023 | Incident | substantial | The pilot's loss of control while landing a tailwheel airplane. |
| Feb 06, 2020 | Sonora, CA | N9474A | Fatal (2) | substantial | The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during approach for landing. |
| Dec 16, 2019 | Lancaster, CA | N4098N | Minor | substantial | The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his use of excessive braking while taxiing. |
| Sep 08, 2019 | Lakeview, SD | N73000 | Fatal (2) | substantial |
The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, an aerod…The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack, an aerodynamic stall, and subsequent impact with terrain, and the student pilot’s non-compliance and lack of experience. |