Cessna 140 N77J

Summary

On 20 May 2023 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 140 registered N77J was involved in an accident near American Falls, Idaho, 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

20 May 2023 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

American Falls, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

42.8119, -112.8211

Aircraft

Cessna 140

Registration

N77J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

American Falls → Wells

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA193

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inadvertent selection of the off position of the fuel tank selector inflight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot the engine lost all power immediately after switching fuel tanks during initial climb. The pilot performed a forced landing in a field, which resulted in the airplane nosing over and substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot told investigators that she may have inadvertently moved the fuel selector to the OFF position and that she observed the fuel selector in the OFF position following the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.