Cessna 140 N76176

Summary

On 26 April 2000 at about 18:50 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N76176 was involved in an accident near Hunter, Oklahoma, 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

26 April 2000 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Hunter, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.5600, -97.6601

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N76176

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Justin → Des Moines

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW00LA132

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate preflight resulting in the loss of the oil cap and subsequent loss of engine oil. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en route, following a decrease of oil pressure, the pilot shut down the engine. During the forced landing flare/touchdown in the field, the main landing gear struck a fence and the airplane nosed over. At the site, oil was found covering the lower surface of the airplane from the engine cowling to the empennage, and the oil cap was not found. The engine and aircraft manufacturers did not have any record where a secured oil cap came off in flight. The aircraft representative stated that if the 'tabs inside the filler cap became corroded completely through, they would not retain the cap properly.' A mechanic, who recovered the airplane from the field, stated that the oil cap was not found, and he noticed no discrepancies or rust on the oil filler neck. The manufacturer's preflight checklist states in part: 'Check oil level.' The operating details states in part: 'In replacing the cap, make sure that it is on firmly and turned all the way to the stop at the right to prevent loss of oil through the filler neck.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.