Cessna 140 accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1994
On April 22, 1994 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76545, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarion, Pennsylvania (Clarion County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN OVERRUN OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLISION WITH A BERM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 1994 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Clarion, Pennsylvania · Clarion County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76545 · no longer on the register · serial 10981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT. HE STATED THAT HE 'OVERCONTROLLED' THE AIRPLANE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE HEADING OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND AGAIN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. IT NOSED OVER AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1993; 7 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 6, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:16 pm from DUJ, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.