Cessna 140 accident near Holt, Florida, May 22, 1998
On May 22, 1998 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2102N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holt, Florida (Yellow River 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
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1998 · about 9:45 pm local time · cases in 1998
- Place
- Holt, Florida · Yellow River · cases near this airport · 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
- N2102N · registry record · serial 12338
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane had just come out of overhaul, which included the rebuilding of the engine. After the completion of a thorough preflight, the pilot stated he executed a normal takeoff. As the airplane climbed through 500 feet, the engine had a 'sudden but smooth power loss'. After attempting to restart the engine, the pilot stated he selected a field for landing and executed an off airport landing. The airplane encountered soft ground and nosed over during the landing roll. Examination of the engine by Textron Lycoming found the engine in excellent condition. According to Lycoming, there were no discrepancies found that would have prevented the engine from running.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,958 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1998; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FD93 FL at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:14 pm from CEW, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N2102N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N2102N on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 140 1,839 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,682 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D 45 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Yellow River Airstrip Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 988 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,702 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2102N 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL98LA077.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.