Cessna 140 accident near Winnsboro, South Carolina, December 24, 2010
On December 24, 2010 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76831, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Winnsboro, South Carolina (Fairfield County 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 excessive brake inputs by both pilots during the landing roll resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 2010 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Winnsboro, South Carolina · Fairfield County 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
- N76831 · no longer on the register · serial 11263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the tail-wheel equipped airplane, his pilot-rated passenger performed a normal wheel landing. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted to the right and in response he attempted to correct with left rudder input. The airplane continued to veer and he applied left brake. The application of the left brake made both pilots brace themselves, and they inadvertently depressed both sets of brake pedals at the same time. The brakes locked and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unneccessary action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 20, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2010
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FDW Winnsboro SC at 6:30 pm
- Destination: FDW Winnsboro SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from FDW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 29, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports: Fdw Metars | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo #1: View of Damaged Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photo #2: View of Damaged Vertical Stabilizer (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.