Cessna 140 accident near Malta, Ohio, March 23, 2010
On March 23, 2010 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2082N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Malta, Ohio (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to take off in conditions that exceeded the climb capability of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 2010 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Malta, Ohio · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2082N · registry record · serial 12318
- 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 taxied both ways on the grass airstrip so that he could evaluate the condition of the "moist" grass and the winds prior to takeoff. He determined that a light, gusty crosswind existed and the slope of the terrain favored runway 24. The pilot performed a short/soft takeoff on runway 24 and the airplane lifted into ground effect at 45 mph. He stated that he did not notice the engine rpms, but the airplane did not seem to be accelerating. The pilot aborted the takeoff to avoid contacting trees at the end of the airstrip. He stated that upon landing he held full back pressure on the control yoke and applied the brakes. The airplane subsequently nosed over on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. A wind sock was present on the airstrip. Just prior to the accident, the closest weather reporting station, 22 miles away, reported winds from 070 degrees at 4 knots. The winds reported 53 minutes after the accident were from 030 degrees at 10 knots. The gross weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was about 3.5 pounds under the maximum gross weight. The pilot purchased the airplane about 3 weeks prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,050 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,010 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 21, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,756 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 2010; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C-85-12-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Malta OH at 10:00 pm
- Destination: I71 Mcconnelsville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,900 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ZZV, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.