Cessna 140 accident near Linden, Michigan, May 17, 1989
On May 17, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N4240N, was destroyed in an accident near Linden, Michigan (Linden Prices Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT, POOR AIRCRAFT HANDLING, AND THE RESULTANT HARD TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Linden, Michigan · Linden Prices Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N4240N · registry record · serial 13711
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A HARD LANDING ON A SOD RUNWAY. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP, THE PILOT SHUT IT DOWN AND PERFORMED A WALK-AROUND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO RESTART THE AIRCRAFT AND TAKE OFF, RETURNING TO THE AIRCRAFT'S HOME BASE AIRPORT. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S 'TAIL WHEEL WAS VIBRATING ENOUGH TO SEE AND HEAR IT...THE PLANE (FLEW) COCKEYED.' THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED FURTHER DAMAGE WHEN IT GROUND-LOOPED UPON LANDING AT THE HOME BASE.
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
- Flight time: 3,360 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 45G Brighton MI
- Destination: 9G2 Linden MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.