Cessna 140 accident near Groesbeck, Texas, May 11, 2013
On May 11, 2013 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N1752V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Groesbeck, Texas (Fort Parker Flying Field). 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
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2013 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Groesbeck, Texas · Fort Parker Flying Field · 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
- N1752V · no longer on the register · serial 14081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he departed from a grass runway with a tailwind of about 8 knots. After the airplane became airborne about midfield, he was unsure of the climb performance so he decided to abort the takeoff. During the landing, the pilot did not maintain control of the airplane, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the engine mount, lower fuselage, one wing and the vertical fin and rudder. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He added that the four-point shoulder harness saved him from injury.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,962 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 4,811 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,292 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 2013; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Groesbeck TX at 4:50 pm
- Destination: 0TE4 Hilltop Lakes TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.