Cessna 140 accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, March 6, 1991
On March 6, 1991 at about 8:36 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Pulliam airport). It was a personal 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
THAT THE PILOT IMPROPERLY USED THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND BRAKES. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS AN EXISTING CROSS/TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1991 · about 8:36 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Pulliam · 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
- N76553 · no longer on the register · serial 10989
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED THE AIRPLANE TO LAND ON THE 6,999 FT LONG RUNWAY 03. THE SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATION CHART AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATES THAT THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 260 DEGREES AT 5 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXECUTED AN UNEVENTFUL WHEEL LANDING AND WHEN THE AIRPLANE DECELERATED HE BEGAN TO TURN OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE TAXIWAY WHEN A GUST OF WIND RAISED THE LEFT WING AND THEN THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. HE COULD NOT RECALL IF HE APPLIED BRAKES WHEN HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ARREST THE RAISING LEFT WING.
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: 334 hours in all; 223 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: PRC Prescott AZ at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 6,999 ft by 15 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:36 pm from FLG, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N76553 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.