Cessna 140 accident near Waterloo, Iowa, October 3, 2003
On October 3, 2003 at about 7:46 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N72701, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waterloo, Iowa (Waterloo Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in his failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. A factor associated with the accident was the strong, gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2003 · about 7:46 pm local time
- Place
- Waterloo, Iowa · Waterloo Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N72701 · no longer on the register · serial 9880
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane cart wheeled following a loss of control while landing on runway 30. The pilot reported he contacted Flight Service and heard transmissions from other aircraft so he knew the winds were strong and gusty out of the northwest. He also listened to automated terminal information service (ATIS) prior to landing. The pilot stated he was at 60 miles per hour and as the left wheel touched down, the right wing began to rise. He applied full power and removed the carburetor heat to go-around. The pilot stated the right wing continued to rise and he was unable to lower it or the nose in order to gain more airspeed. He stated the left wing contacted the runway followed by the propeller, main gear, and right wing tip. The pilot stated he believed the left wing was in a "stall mode." The local winds recorded one minute prior to the accident were from 330 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 27 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,917 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,707 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3GV Grain Valley MO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: ALO Waterloo IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 8,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.70 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from ALO
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.
Other NTSB records under N72701 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.