Cessna 140 accident near Chico, California, April 10, 1990
On April 10, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76918, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chico, California (Ranchaero airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO UNPORTING OF THE FUEL PICK UP IN THE FUEL TANK SELECTED FOR THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chico, California · Ranchaero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76918 · registry record · serial 11360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT AND DISCOVERED THAT NO FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO REFUEL THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT SAID HE VISUALLY EXAMINED THE TANKS AND FOUND THAT HE HAD ABOUT 6 TOTAL GALLONS AVAILABLE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO FLY TO A NEIGHBORING AIRPORT TO OBTAIN FUEL. AFTER A NORMAL RUNUP HE INITIATED A TAKEOFF AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE AT ABOUT 100 FEET AGL, THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER. ACCORDING TO CESSNA AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS HAVE PICKUP PORTS AT THE LOWER FORWARD INBOARD CORNER. THE COMPANY SAID THERE IS A PROHIBITION AGAINST TAKEOFF'S WITH FUEL QUANTITIES OF LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER IN THE TANK SELECTED FOR THE MANEUVER. AN ENGINEERING REPRESENTATIVE FROM CESSNA STATED THAT THEIR SERVICE HISTORY ON THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED A 'HIGH NUMBER OF UNPORTING INCIDENTS WITH FUEL QUANTITIES OF LESS THEN ONE- QUARTER.'
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: 542 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 483 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1990; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 023 at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 023
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 2,280 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from CIC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.