Cessna 140 accident near Parma, New York, July 5, 2014
On July 5, 2014 at about 4:11 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N76850, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Parma, New York (Ridge Road West airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind and his failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was the failure of the aluminum center safety belt bracket.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2014 · about 4:11 pm local time
- Place
- Parma, New York · Ridge Road West · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76850 · registry record · serial 11284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing touch-and-go landings at his private airport with a right quartering tailwind. During landing roll, the pilot lost directional control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into a wheat field where it nosed over. Examination of the runway revealed that a prominent row of trees was located directly adjacent to the right side of the runway, and, given the prevailing wind, there would have been associated turbulence due to the disruption of the ambient wind flow as it passed over the trees. Tire marks and ground scars indicated that, when the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, it was carrying considerable energy, as the airplane traveled 390 ft from its touchdown point to where it nosed over. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The crown of the fuselage above the pilot's seat displayed an outward bulge indicating that, during the nose over, the pilot's head contacted the overhead area of the cockpit interior, which likely caused the cervical spine fracture and positional asphyxiation injuries described in the pilot's autopsy report. Examination of the pilot's 4-point restraint system revealed that the aluminum center safety belt bracket, which was likely installed when the airplane was manufactured in 1946, had failed in shearing overstress during the nose over. This resulted in the pilot being partially released from the restraint system and subsequently contacting the crown of the airplane. Examination of the airplane manufacturer's records revealed that shortly after the airplane was manufactured in 1946, the manufacturer began installing a steel center safety belt bracket in new production airplanes. Following this accident, the manufacturer issued a service bulletin that called for inspection of the center seat belt bracket on all Cessna 120 and 140 airplanes to determine if the latest type (steel) bracket was installed and replacement of any older type (aluminum) brackets found with the latest type.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Fuselage › Seat/cargo attach fitting › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,583 hours in all; 438 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,460 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 8, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,893.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2014; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85-12F (piston); 3,890 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7NK4 Parma NY at 3:47 pm
- Destination: 7NK4 Parma NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ROC, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2016. 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 14-051 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements and Interview Summaries | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Aerial Images of Accident Area | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records - Kroc Metars and Tafs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpts from Illustrated Parts Catalog - Center Safety Belt Bracket | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Aero Fabricators Restraint Assembly Installation Information - STC SA1429GL | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Cessna Single Engine Owner Advisory (SEB-25-03) - Seat Belt Bracket Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin (SEB-25-03) - Seat Belt Bracket Inspection | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Wreckage Release and Evidence Control | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Final Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Photo Array | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N76850 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
1990-08-04NYC90LA185 · accident near Middlesex, NY · substantial damage · no injuries
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.