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 13, 1995	FENTRESS, TX	N76981	Incident	substantial	THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT OF AN ANIMAL INTO THE PATH OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO ESTABLISH A VISUAL LOOK… THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT OF AN ANIMAL INTO THE PATH OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS WERE THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO ESTABLISH A VISUAL LOOKOUT DOWN THE RUNWAY DUE TO THE RUNWAY'S 'CROWNED' MIDPOINT.
Dec 26, 1994	TOK, AK	N89870	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO FLY INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ICING CONDITIONS.
Sep 18, 1994	NENANA, AK	N89511	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE USE OF THE BRAKES DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF.
Sep 13, 1994	WILLOW, AK	N76680	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURES. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNAVAILABILITY OF A PARKING BRAKE AND TIEDOWNS TO SECURE THE AIRPLANE.
Jul 21, 1994	ARCHER CITY, TX	N2260V	Incident	substantial	FUEL CONTAMINATION INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS WERE THE IMPROPER REFUELING TECHNIQUES USED BY THE PILOT AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A … FUEL CONTAMINATION INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS WERE THE IMPROPER REFUELING TECHNIQUES USED BY THE PILOT AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ONTO WHICH A FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.
Jul 13, 1994	KENT, WA	N77045	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS WIND GUST.
Jun 23, 1994	MOUNT VERNON, OH	N3627V	Incident	destroyed	The pilot's inadequate handling which resulted in the airplane nosing over during the takeoff roll.
Apr 23, 1994	HEMPSTEAD, TX	N2302N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE STRIP BETWEEN THE TWO RUNWAYS. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRSTRIP AND THE SOFT, WET TER… THE PILOT'S IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE STRIP BETWEEN THE TWO RUNWAYS. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT NOT BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRSTRIP AND THE SOFT, WET TERRAIN.
Jan 31, 1994	PALO ALTO, CA	N2396V	Incident	substantial	THE CFI'S INPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT, THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE … THE CFI'S INPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT, THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. THE CFI'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Jan 02, 1994	ESPANOLA, NM	N89036	Incident	substantial	WAS THE DUAL STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR WAS THE CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION.
Oct 24, 1993	FRANKENMUTH, MI	N73003	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SIMILARITY OF SHAPE, SIZE, AND COLOR OF THE MIXTURE AND C… IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE SIMILARITY OF SHAPE, SIZE, AND COLOR OF THE MIXTURE AND CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROLS AND THE TERRAIN CONDITION (WITH CROP) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Sep 05, 1993	TRENTON, IL	N89467	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE OVER OF THE AIRPLANE.
Aug 16, 1993	BASTROP, LA	N2673N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE PIL… THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Aug 15, 1993	LAKE ARTHUR, NM	N1142D	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING ROLL.
Jun 29, 1993	JUNEAU, AK	N4214N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
May 30, 1993	DILLINGHAM, AK	N1926V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT.
May 06, 1993	RAMONA, CA	N76194	Incident	substantial	A JAMMED CONTROL YOKE.
Feb 01, 1993	WARREN, MN	N3571V	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING. THE CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.
Oct 27, 1992	WAVERLY, IA	N4213N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING LANDING ROLL.
Sep 25, 1992	MOAB, UT	N2553N	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTING FROM INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDEN… THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION RESULTING FROM INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TERRAIN CONDITION (DITCH) IN THE LANDING AREA.
Sep 11, 1992	VANCOUVER, WA	N1482T	Incident	substantial	INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI). FACTORS INCLUDE AIRSPEED NOT BEING MAINTAINED BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN… INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI). FACTORS INCLUDE AIRSPEED NOT BEING MAINTAINED BY THE STUDENT PILOT, AND ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Sep 05, 1992	BLAIRSVILLE, GA	N2059V	Incident	substantial	A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHICH RESULTED FROM TWO STUCK EXHAUST VALVES.
Aug 26, 1992	REEDLEY, CA	N72172	Incident	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND HIS EXCESSIVE USE OF THE BRAKES.
Aug 23, 1992	WASILLA, AK	N77073	Incident	substantial	THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT HAND EXHAUST STACK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WH… THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT HAND EXHAUST STACK. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.
Jun 24, 1992	NEWHALL, CA	N76962	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGMENT AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY TO FLY HIS AIRPLANE.

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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