Cessna 140 accident near Willow, Alaska, September 13, 1994
On September 13, 1994 at about 3:05 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76680, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willow, Alaska (Deshka Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURES. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE UNAVAILABILITY OF A PARKING BRAKE AND TIEDOWNS TO SECURE THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1994 · about 3:05 am local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Deshka Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76680 · registry record · serial 11120
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PREPARING TO DEPART UNACCOMPANIED ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT FROM A PRIVATE DIRT AIRSTRIP AND BEGAN HAND-PROPPING HIS AIRPLANE. NO TIE-DOWNS WERE AVAILABLE AND A PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THE TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE. DURING THE PRE-START SEQUENCE, THE THROTTLE WAS POSITIONED NEAR WIDE OPEN. WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED, THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED AWAY FROM THE PILOT AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE AND FENCE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1994; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC94LA136.