Cessna 140 accident near Rancho Murieta, California, February 8, 1986
On February 8, 1986 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89447, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rancho Murieta, California (Rancho Murieta 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 1986 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rancho Murieta, California · Rancho Murieta · 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
- N89447 · registry record · serial 8479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON FEBRUARY 8, 1986 AT 1530 PST A CESSNA 140 LANDED HARD AND NOSED OVER ON THE RUNWAY. VMC PREVAILED AT THE TIME. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT ON LANDING HE FLARED TOO HIGH AND LANDED HARD. HIS FEET SLIPPED ON THE PEDALS AND INADVERTENTLY APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER. THERE WERE NO MECHANCIAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 1985; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: RIU Rancho Murieta CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N89447 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.