Cessna 140 accident near Montague, California, July 7, 1991
On July 7, 1991 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N3160N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Montague, California. 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
THE FAILURE OF AN EXHAUST VALVE IN THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1991 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Montague, California · 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
- N3160N · no longer on the register · serial 13418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PILOT REPORTED BEING UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, AND HE MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BERM AND NOSED OVER. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE WAS BROKEN. THE VALVE HAD BEEN IN USE FOR AT LEAST 973 OPERATIONAL HOURS 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 275 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 201 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1991; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 85F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3S2 Aurora OR at 5:30 pm
- Destination: AUN Auburn CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N3160N 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.