Cessna 140 N2076N

Summary

On 4 August 1997 at about 18:20 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N2076N was involved in an accident near Vancouver, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 1997 at 18:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Vancouver, Washington, United States

Coordinates

45.6293, -122.5206

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N2076N

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

SEA97LA182

1 person died.

Aircraft control was not maintained. Continued operation with known deficiencies in equipment and movement restrictions to an exhaust valve were factors.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that they observed the airplane, at an altitude of 300-400 feet, make a steep left turn. The wings were then leveled for an instant before the nose of the airplane dropped and the airplane descended in a near vertical attitude. The left wing of the airplane collided with the top of a commercial building and remained on the roof, as the remainder of the airplane slid down the side of the building in a nose down attitude. Prior to the airplane taking off, the pilot and passenger reported to two mechanics that during an earlier flight the engine had 'detonated' and lost power. The mechanics told the pilot what they thought might be the problem, however, the pilot did not pursue the issue and neither mechanic looked at the engine. Post-accident investigation of the engine found that the number two cylinder exhaust valve appeared tight in the guide and the exhaust valve spring pocket contained excess carbon. The number three piston head showed signs of excess heat. No other evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.