Cessna 140 N3537V

Summary

On 8 February 2008 at about 19:09 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N3537V was involved in an accident near Grand Meadow, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 February 2008 at 19:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Grand Meadow, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

43.6697, -92.6050

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N3537V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Richmond → Oskaloosa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI08LA080

1 person died.

The pilot's continued visual flight into an area of known instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot had purchased the vintage airplane earlier in the day and was en route to attend a family event later that afternoon. Track data for the accident flight indicated that the airplane was flying between 300 and 600 feet above ground level (agl) when it encountered a wind farm with several 400-foot-tall wind turbines. The data showed that the airplane made a 90-degree course change, which was followed by a figure-8 turn at varying altitudes between 800 and 1,500 feet agl. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose-low, left-wing-down attitude. The 300-foot-long debris path and fragmentation of the airplane were consistent with a high-speed impact. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The intended route of flight was into an area of extensive instrument weather conditions consisting of low ceilings and reduced visibility. Weather stations near the accident site reported 400- to 600-foot agl overcast ceilings and visibilities of 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 miles in mist. During the accident flight, there were active flight advisories for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight and moderate icing conditions. The pilot had obtained three weather briefings before departing on the accident flight, all of which forecasted that IFR conditions would exist along the planned route. The airplane was not equipped for instrument flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.