Cessna 140 N77227

Summary

On 2 November 2012 at about 23:45 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N77227, operated by Russell Ellingworth, was involved in an accident near Watsonville, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 November 2012 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Watsonville, California, United States

Nearest airport

Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI)

Coordinates

36.9347, -121.7872

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N77227

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Russell Ellingworth

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

King City → Watsonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR13CA033

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after a normal approach, he landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the main wheels (wheel landing). As the airplane decelerated during the landing roll, the pilot directed his attention inside of the cockpit and eased back pressure off of the control yoke. When the pilot redirected his attention outside, the airplane nosed down, and the propeller struck the ground; the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the wings and empennage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.