Cessna 140 N2001N

Summary

On 25 April 1996 at about 22:47 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N2001N was involved in an accident near Houlton, Maine, 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

25 April 1996 at 22:47

Classification

Accident

Location

Houlton, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Houlton International (HUL)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N2001N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Houlton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC96LA091

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to select the fullest fuel tank prior to takeoff which resulted in fuel starvation during the initial takeoff climb.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he departed with 7 and 8 gallons of fuel in the left and right fuel tanks respectively. He conducted a local flight for about 1 hour and then returned to practice landings. During the second initial takeoff climb, about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot switched the fuel selector from the left to right fuel tank; however, the engine did not respond, and he performed a forced landing. Examination of the wreckage revealed about 2 to 3 gallons of fuel in the left tank and an undetermined amount of fuel in the right tank. According to the Cessna 140 Operations Manual, the total fuel capacity for each wing is 12-1/2 gallons, and it states 'Do not take off on less than 1/4 tank.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.