Cessna 140 accident near Blairsville, Georgia, September 5, 1992
On September 5, 1992 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2059V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Blairsville, Georgia (Blairsville 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHICH RESULTED FROM TWO STUCK EXHAUST VALVES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1992 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Blairsville, Georgia · Blairsville · 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
- N2059V · no longer on the register · serial 114272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT REFUELED THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED ON THE RAMP SEVERAL DAYS. AFTER COMPLETING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, THE PILOT TOOK OFF, AND FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE LOST POWER; THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD. THE POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCOVERED THAT TWO EXHAUST VALVES WERE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. BOTH VALVES WERE FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VALVE EXAMINATION FURTHER DISCLOSED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE COATED WITH A LAYER OF CARBON, WHICH PREVENTED NORMAL VALVE MOVEMENT. THE PILOT USED AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE, AND BOTH OIL AND FUEL ADDITIVES WERE USED ROUTINELY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 46A Blairsville GA at 2:05 pm
- Destination: 6R9 Llano TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from CHA, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.