Cessna 140A accident near Grinnell, Iowa, June 5, 2003
On June 5, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140A, registered N5667C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grinnell, Iowa (Grinnell 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent ground loop. Factors contributing to the accident were the wind gusts and crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grinnell, Iowa · Grinnell Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140A · all 140As on the register
- Registration
- N5667C · registry record · serial 15623
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot stated he received a report from another aircraft that the winds at his destination were variable and that he could choose a runway. The pilot reported the approach and touchdown were normal. The pilot noted he encountered a right rear-quartering gust. Winds 21 miles south-southwest of the accident site were recorded as 210 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. The pilot stated the airplane swerved, ground looped, and subsequently nosed over.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 639 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 639 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,633.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2002; 58.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-14-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PEA Pella IA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: GGI Grinnell IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from PEA, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.