Cessna 140 accident near Van Nuys, California, December 30, 2006
On December 30, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N9198Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). It was an instructional 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
Failure of the pilot under instruction to maintain directional control of the airplane and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 30, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · 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
- N9198Z · registry record · serial 10629
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout, directional control of the conventional gear airplane was lost, and it moved from left to right on the runway. As the airplane began to veer off to the right side of the runway, the certified flight instructor (CFI) applied left rudder in an attempt to return the airplane back to runway centerline. The airplane continued off the runway and was headed towards an airport sign when the CFI applied the brakes. The airplane went up on its nose and structural damage was incurred to the firewall and adjacent structural members. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The accident was reported 2 months later, following routine maintenance surveillance at the airport by an FAA airworthiness inspector.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 775 as pilot in command; 125 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WHP Los Angeles CA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16L, 4,011 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:30 pm from VNY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.