Cessna 140 N1975N

Summary

On 1 July 1989 at about 13:20 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N1975N was involved in an accident near Bridgeport, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 1989 at 13:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bridgeport, West Virginia, United States

Coordinates

39.2897, -80.2492

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N1975N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO89LA051

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT WAS ON CLIMB OUT, AT 200 FT AGL, AFTER DOING THE THIRD T & G LNDG, WHEN THE ENG STARTED LOSING PWR. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LNDG IN AN OPEN FIELD AND THE ACFT STRUCK A POLE AND TREE. THE PLT SAID HE PUT THE ACFT IN A LEFT SLIP DURING THE THIRD LNDG APPROACH AND WAS USING THE LEFT FUEL TANK DURING THE FLIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS EACH HAD 5 GALS OF FUEL. EACH TANK CAPACITY IS 12.5 GALS. THE ENG STARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND OPERATED WITHOUT DISCREPANCY DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.