Cessna 140 accident near Fulton, Missouri, May 22, 1997
On May 22, 1997 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76122, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fulton, Missouri (Skygo 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a malfunction of the engine's carburetor that was associated with a spalled carburetor float fulcrum pin which resulted in fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1997 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Fulton, Missouri · Skygo · 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
- N76122 · registry record · serial 10519
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said the engine experienced a total loss of power shortly after takeoff. He said he was able to land the airplane on the remaining runway. The pilot said he intentionally ground looped the airplane so it would not roll into a ditch located near the runway's departure end. Following the accident the engine was run to its static RPM of 2,200 RPM. The inspection of the carburetor revealed a spalled float fulcrum pin. According to the FAA Maintenance or Defect Report filed on this discovery, '...wear on this pin can cause this type of problem.'
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: 2,430 hours in all; 2,399 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,706 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1996; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RLA at 1:00 am
- Destination: RLA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.