Cessna 140 accident near Warner Springs, California, January 14, 1994
On January 14, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N140KT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warner Springs, 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
a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Warner Springs, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N140KT · no longer on the register · serial 9125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A CRUISE CLIMB CONFIGURATION WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE POWER LOSS AS A SLOW DECREASE IN RPM'S FOLLOWED BY A 'PULSING AT LOW RPM.' THE PILOT BEGAN A DESCENT AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE POWER LOSS BY CHANGING THE MIXTURE SETTING AND APPLYING CARBURETOR HEAT. POWER COULD NOT BE RESTORED AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE LIP OF A RAVINE. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT FUEL WAS EVIDENT IN THE TANKS, LINES, AND GASCOLATOR BOWL. THE PROPELLER AND IMPACT DAMAGED INTAKE SPIDER MANIFOLD WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE WAS THEN STARTED AND RAN FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, UP TO 2,000 RPM, UTILIZING THE AIRFRAME FUEL AND IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE CARBURETOR WAS DISASSEMBLED WITH NO INTERNAL ABNORMALITIES NOTED.
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: 141 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 96 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,326 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1993; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRQ Carlsbad CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: L77 Chiriaco Summit CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.