Cessna 140 accident near Potter, Nebraska, June 2, 1996
On June 2, 1996 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N3609V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Potter, Nebraska (Bar J Lazy V 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
a fatigue fracture of the landing gear axle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1996 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Potter, Nebraska · Bar J Lazy V · 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
- N3609V · registry record · serial 14877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on takeoff run when the right landing gear axle broke. It was not possible to maintain directional control and the gear leg dug into the terrain. The airplane ground looped and the tail impacted the terrain. Subsequent examination of the axle revealed that the failure was due to fatigue cracking, but the source of the fatigue was not determined.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 8,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,436 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1996; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 2:30 pm
- Destination: BFF Scottsbluff NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.