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
Jul 04, 2019	Reeves, LA	N3725V	Minor	substantial	The pilot's failure to secure the oil filler cap, which resulted in oil starvation and a precautionary off-airport landing, during which the airplane … The pilot's failure to secure the oil filler cap, which resulted in oil starvation and a precautionary off-airport landing, during which the airplane was substantially damaged.
Jun 12, 2019	Independence, OR	N73053	Incident	substantial	Fatigue failure of the right landing gear axle, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll.
Mar 26, 2019	Newton, KS	N76268	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power after the No. 1 connecting rod end separated as a result of oil starvation, which led to the forced landing and nose-over.
Mar 18, 2019	Corvallis, OR	N5641C	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a propeller strike and subsequent nose-over.
Oct 15, 2018	Denver, CO	N76154	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s inadvertent brake application, which resulted in a loss of directional control and a subsequent nose-over.
Oct 10, 2018	Marina, CA	N89266	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s inadvertent application of the brakes, which resulted in a nose-over.
Aug 31, 2018	TEHACHAPI, CA	N2167V	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb.
Aug 17, 2018	Hayes Center, NE	N4102N	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Aug 14, 2018	Marsing, ID	N89093	Incident	substantial	The loss of engine power during a low pass as a result of a blockage of the carburetor idle chambers which led to a forced landing in a river.
Aug 04, 2018	Mount Holly, NJ	N1160D	Minor	substantial	The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane ballooning upon landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control and excessi… The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in the airplane ballooning upon landing, and his subsequent loss of directional control and excessive brake application.
Jul 26, 2018	Healdsburg, CA	N1902V	Incident	substantial	The pilot's improper brake application during the landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over.
May 22, 2018	Daytona Beach, FL	N89864	Fatal (1)	destroyed	The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb, and his failure … The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning back to the runway, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
Mar 12, 2018	Madison, SD	N2011N	Incident	substantial	The flight instructor’s delayed aborted takeoff on a soft, wet, grass runway, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Feb 09, 2018	Keller, TX	N2829N	Incident	substantial	The pilot's inability to gain altitude normally in order to avoid a flock of ducks flying overhead during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane stri… The pilot's inability to gain altitude normally in order to avoid a flock of ducks flying overhead during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane striking a fence.
Nov 08, 2017	Macon, GA	N76238	Incident	substantial	The pilot's incorrect pitch control during takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over.
Oct 30, 2017	Port Townsend, WA	N72339	Minor	substantial	A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Aug 30, 2017	Empire, NV	N140X	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an off-airport precautionary landing on a dirt road with an uphill gradient.
Aug 05, 2017	Mount Sterling, KY	N89738	Serious (1)	substantial	A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Mar 28, 2017	St. Petersburg, FL	N7838B	Incident	substantial	The pilot receiving instruction’s overcorrection with rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and runway excursion. Contributi… The pilot receiving instruction’s overcorrection with rudder during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop and runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Jan 17, 2017	Markleeville, CA	N5623C	Incident	substantial	The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during a low pass and the subsequent impact with a snow berm, which resulted in a nosed-over.
Aug 25, 2016	Lebanon, IN	N2614N	Incident	substantial	PC The unseen standing water on the runway that abruptly slowed the tailwheel equipped airplane during landing resulting in a nose-over.
Jul 08, 2016	Salinas, CA	N89965	Incident	substantial	The fatigue failure of a bulkhead-skin joint that supported the main landing gear leg, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear. C… The fatigue failure of a bulkhead-skin joint that supported the main landing gear leg, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear. Contributing to the failure were the non-original structural configuration of the 60-year-old airplane and the relative inaccessibility for inspection or cleaning of the structure in the region of the fatigue failure.
Apr 30, 2016	Poplar Grove, IL	N4242H	Incident	substantial	The pilot's visual disorientation and failure to monitor the altimeter during a night approach, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
Mar 13, 2016	Chandler, AZ	N89939	Incident	substantial	The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion, a ground loop, and a collision with… The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion, a ground loop, and a collision with an airport sign.
Feb 13, 2016	Independence, OR	N3625V	Incident	substantial	The failure of the left main landing gear wheel axle due to a fatigue crack.

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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