Cessna 140 accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, May 26, 2020
On May 26, 2020 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N90023, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Appleton, Wisconsin (Appleton International 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
The pilot's loss of control while landing a tailwheel airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2020 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Appleton International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 Undesignat, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N90023 · no longer on the register · serial 9081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot planned to land the tailwheel-equipped airplane on runway 21. He reported that there were some gusty winds, but a normal day. After touchdown, the tail of the airplane rose and continued until the airplane nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top of the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wing strut. After the airplane was righted, the airplane was towed back to its hangar without issue. The pilot reported the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 228.3 hours in all; 53.4 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,451 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 2:30 pm
- Destination: W34 Shiocton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from KATW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.