Cessna 140 accident near Columbia, South Carolina, January 16, 1992
On January 16, 1992 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N1976N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, South Carolina (Owens Downtown Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE FORCED LANDING RESULTING IN A STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN A CESSNA 140.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1992 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, South Carolina · Owens Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N1976N · no longer on the register · serial 12212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LIFT-OFF, AT APRX 300 FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE DROPPED. IT REMAINED IN A LEFT TURN IN A NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT. FUEL ON BOARD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 5 GALS. THE AIRCRAFT OPERATION MANUAL STATES 'DO NOT TAKE OFF WITH LESS THAN 1/4 TANK.' THE FUEL CAPACITY OF THE AIRCRAFT IS 25 GALS. EXAMINATION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED AN IMPACT MARK ON THE FLOAT WHICH MATCHED WITH THE FUEL JET IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CARBURETOR. TESTS SHOWED THAT WITH FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR, THE FLOAT DOES NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FUEL JET. THERE WAS NO RECORD IN EITHER THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK, OR THE RIGHT SEAT ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT'S LOGBOOK, OF PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN A CESSNA 140.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,777 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,374 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from CAE, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.