Cessna 140 N76857

Summary

On 25 December 1996 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N76857 was involved in an accident near Emigrant Gap, California, 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 December 1996 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Emigrant Gap, California, United States

Nearest airport

Blue Canyon (BLU)

Coordinates

39.2497, -120.6908

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N76857

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Angwin → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA077

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's misjudgment of altitude/clearance while attempting a precautionary landing on a closed, snow covered runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was making a low pass over the closed, snow covered runway to determine if a precautionary landing could be made due to 'unusual engine roughness.' During the low pass the airplane unexpectedly settled on the snow covered runway. He stated that this was due to the 'featureless condition of the snow covered runway and a gradual rise in ground elevation [which] caused a decreased depth perception.' The pilot reported that the snow covered condition of the runway resulted in a rapid deceleration of the aircraft's speed, the aircraft landing, and nosing over once it came to a stop. An FAA inspector reported that there was approximately 1 foot of snow on the runway, and that the aircraft traveled about 30 yards after it touched down midfield. The inspector also reported that no discrepancies were identified with the engine or airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.