Stall / Spin · NTSB CEN19FA307
Cessna 140 — Lakeview, SD
| Date | September 8, 2019 |
| Location | Lakeview, SD |
| Aircraft | Cessna 140 |
| Purpose of flight | Aerial Observation |
| Conditions | Dusk · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Aerodynamic stall/spin |
| Pilot age | 39 |
| Pilot total time | 40 hrs · Student / very low time |
| Time in type | 20 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring equip/instruments-Student/instructed pilot
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience-Student/instructed pilot
What happened
The student pilot was conducting a low-level aerial observation flight with his son to determine the level of water in towers on farms nearby. The time of the student pilot’s departure from his private airstrip and the time of the accident could not be determined. The amount of fuel in the airplane at takeoff was undetermined. After contact from concerned family members, law enforcement located the wreckage the next day about 825 ft from the approach end of the pilot's airstrip.
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Airplane wreckage and impact signatures were consistent with the airplane being configured for landing. Propeller signatures indicated little or no rotation at the time of impact. The impact damage was consistent with a loss of control in flight, followed by the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The reason for the loss of control in flight could not be determined.
The student pilot was taught to fly by his grandfather. It is possible the student pilot was teaching his son to fly; however, it was undetermined if that was occurring during the accident flight. The pilot held a student pilot certificate and therefore was prohibited by regulation from carrying a passenger. Additionally, the student pilot's endorsement for flight operations was expired, and he did not hold an endorsement for the accident airplane make and model.