Cessna 140 accident near Rice Lake, Wisconsin, May 20, 2026
On May 20, 2026 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 1948 Cessna 140, registered N2307V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Rice Lake, Wisconsin (Rice Lake Regional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2026 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Rice Lake, Wisconsin · Rice Lake Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140, built 1948 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2307V · registry record · serial 14543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported the tailwheel equipped airplane touched down on the main wheels and on the runway centerline. After touch down, an unusual amount of right rudder was required to keep the airplane straight for the calm wind condition, and as the airplane slowed, more right rudder was needed. When the tailwheel touched down, the airplane continued to veer toward the left until full right rudder had been applied. The pilot attempted to apply right brake to maintain directional control, but the brake did not function properly. The airplane subsequently entered a ground loop, departed the runway pavement, and struck a runway light before coming to rest. The pilot stated that after the accident, he raised the right wheel of the airplane, spun it, and then applied the pilot’s right toe brake. The wheel continued to spin freely until the brake was pumped several times. At that point, the brake functioned properly and the wheel stopped spinning. A postaccident examination conducted by a mechanic revealed damage to the fuselage near the right main landing gear attachment point. Further examination of both the left and right main wheel and brake assemblies was unable to identify any anomalies. The toe brakes functioned normally at that time.
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 defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 296 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 296 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,164 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 2025; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-14 (piston); 1,164 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21D Lake Elmo MN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: RPD Rice Lake WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,700 ft by 99 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from KRPD, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRPD 202335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 15/M01 A3029
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA193.