Cessna 140 accident near Redding, California, May 8, 1991
On May 8, 1991, a Cessna 140, registered N140ED, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California. 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
THAT THE PILOT FAILED TO BRIEF THE PASSENGER AND THE PASSENGERS INTENTIONAL CONTROL INTERFERENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1991
- Place
- Redding, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N140ED · registry record · serial 11148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT DEPARTED THE SHORT GRASS FIELD. INITIALLY THE CLIMB RATE WAS SATISFACTORY AND THE OBSTACLES HAD BEEN CLEARED. THE PILOT WAS LOWERING THE NOSE TO INCREASE AIRSPEED WHEN THE 13 YEAR OLD PASSENGER THOUGHT THE PILOT NEEDED HELP AND GRABBED THE CONTROL WHEEL AND PULLED IT ALL THE WAY BACK. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FAILED TO BRIEF THE PASSENGER NOT TO TOUCH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 840 hours in all; 475 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 780 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.