Cessna 140 accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, August 10, 2003
On August 10, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N72971, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morrilton, Arkansas (Morrilton Muni 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 deterioration of the fuel line resulting in fuel contamination and the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morrilton, Arkansas · Morrilton Muni · 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
- N72971 · registry record · serial 10172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during initial climb. The pilot executed the landing on a field at the departure end of the runway where he hit a mound and a tree. The pilot described the field as bad. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane fuel system was contaminated with the airplane's fuel hose material. The airplane was last fueled approximately one month prior to the accident.
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: 2,287 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 12, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 2003; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDQ Morrilton AR at 10:30 pm
- Destination: BDQ Morrilton AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from RUE, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 CHI03LA253.