Cessna 140 N72942

Summary

On 9 May 2003 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N72942 was involved in an accident near Suffolk, 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

9 May 2003 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Suffolk, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.6125, -76.6253

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N72942

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hampton Roads → Franklin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03LA102

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudgment of his altitude from the wheat field during the execution of a go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the airplane was en route to his home airport when he elected to perform a simulated forced landing over a wheat field. The pilot reported that he reduced power and added carburetor heat. He brought the airplane down to an altitude where the wheels were just above the top of the wheat field, and then he added power for a go-around. The pilot reported that he misjudged his altitude during the go-around, and the wheels made contact with the top of the wheat. The airplane decelerated, sank into the wheat, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no problems with the engine when he added power for the go-around.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.