Cessna 140 accident near Cadillac, Michigan, August 1, 1991
On August 1, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76535, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cadillac, Michigan (Cadillac airport). It was an instructional 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
IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS RESULTING IN AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT BEING MAINTAINED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A GUSTY CROSSWIND CONDITION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cadillac, Michigan · Cadillac · 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
- N76535 · registry record · serial 10971
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT AFTER THREE GO AROUNDS, SHE ATTEMPTED A LANDING ON THE SOD STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE THEN NOSED OVER. THE LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND OF 13 KNOTS GUSTING TO 20 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: student
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,036 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5D8 Marshall MI at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,005 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:52 pm from CAD, 1 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.