Cessna 140 accident near Jacksboro, Tennessee, June 29, 1996
On June 29, 1996 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N72438, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksboro, Tennessee. 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
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s), which resutled in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with trees and the terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1996 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksboro, Tennessee · 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
- N72438 · no longer on the register · serial 9603
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he crossed over the airport at about 200 to 400 feet in preparation for landing. The engine started to sputter and lose power. The pilot verified the fuel selector was positioned to the right fuel tank since the left fuel tank was empty. (Before descending, he noted that the fuel gauge indicated that the right tank was 1/4 to 1/2 full.) The pilot also checked to ensure the carburetor heat was in, and that the magnetos were on both. The engine, however, continued to sputter. The pilot selected an open field for an emergency landing area, but was unable to reach the open field. The airplane collided with trees on final approach and crashed. The pilot reported that after the accident, 'The fire department put a bucket under the wing to catch leaking fuel and recovered 2-2.5 gallons, but fuel had been leaking for 40-60 minutes before they did this.' The pilot reported that he had 'topped off' the tanks before flight and had only flown about 2 hours and 45 minutes when the engine lost power. He also reported that the airplane should have flown at least 3.5 hours after being fully serviced. The engine assembly was removed and placed in an engine test stand. The engine started and developed power.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 380 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 984 as pilot in command; 5 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,335 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 25, 1996; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6A1 Butler GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: JAU
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from TYS, 17 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.