Cessna 140 accident near Edinburg, Texas, October 30, 2020
On October 30, 2020 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N76933, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Edinburg, Texas (South Texas Intl At Edinburg 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 collapse of the airplane’s left main landing gear for a reason that could not be determined based upon the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2020 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Edinburg, Texas · South Texas Intl At Edinburg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76933 · registry record · serial 11375
- 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 had performed three uneventful takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane. During the fourth landing he used a wheel landing technique, and touched down about 45-50 mph. He stated that the touchdown was normal, but the airplane suddenly veered right and did not respond to corrective rudder or brake inputs. The airplane exited the runway and the left main landing gear detached; the left wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. After the accident, a mechanic examined the airplane and found no preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that the landing gear was not fractured and that the retaining bolt was not found. Attempts to contact the mechanic to discuss whether the bolt was available for examination were unsuccessful and, therefore, the bolt could not be evaluated.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear attach sec › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 27, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,757 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14/3, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 85°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 3, 2022. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photographs | 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.