Cessna 140 accident near Hunter, Oklahoma, April 26, 2000
On April 26, 2000 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76176, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hunter, Oklahoma. 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
The pilot's inadequate preflight resulting in the loss of the oil cap and subsequent loss of engine oil. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2000 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hunter, Oklahoma · 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
- N76176 · no longer on the register · serial 10573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route, following a decrease of oil pressure, the pilot shut down the engine. During the forced landing flare/touchdown in the field, the main landing gear struck a fence and the airplane nosed over. At the site, oil was found covering the lower surface of the airplane from the engine cowling to the empennage, and the oil cap was not found. The engine and aircraft manufacturers did not have any record where a secured oil cap came off in flight. The aircraft representative stated that if the 'tabs inside the filler cap became corroded completely through, they would not retain the cap properly.' A mechanic, who recovered the airplane from the field, stated that the oil cap was not found, and he noticed no discrepancies or rust on the oil filler neck. The manufacturer's preflight checklist states in part: 'Check oil level.' The operating details states in part: 'In replacing the cap, make sure that it is on firmly and turned all the way to the stop at the right to prevent loss of oil through the filler neck.'
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,495 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Justin TX
- Destination: DSM Des Moines IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.