Cessna 140 accident near Palo Alto, California, January 31, 1994
On January 31, 1994 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2396V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto/Santa Clara CO. airport). It was an instructional 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 CFI'S INPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT, THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND THE DUAL STUDENT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. THE CFI'S LACK OF TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1994 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto/Santa Clara CO. · 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
- N2396V · no longer on the register · serial 14638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DUAL STUDENT WAS PRACTICING WHEEL LANDINGS IN A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE. ON THE LAST LANDING, THE CFI INSTRUCTED THE DUAL STUDENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS BOUNCING. THE DUAL STUDENT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE CFI HAD 12 HOURS TOTAL INSTRUCTOR TIME OF WHICH 3 HOURS WERE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 859 hours in all; 557 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 734 as pilot in command; 12 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1993; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAO at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from PAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.