Cessna 140 accident near Opa-Locka, Florida, May 21, 1990
On May 21, 1990 at about 10:47 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N76464, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opa-Locka, Florida (Opa Locka 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
LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL DUE TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1990 · about 10:47 pm local time
- Place
- Opa-Locka, Florida · Opa Locka · 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
- N76464 · registry record · serial 10896
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL RATED STUDENT/OWNER OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT STATED THAT HE HIRED THE FLT INSTRUCTOR, WHO REPORTEDLY HAD 25 HRS TAILWHEEL EXPERIENCE, TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OF A FULL STOP LANDING, WHILE IN A THREE POINT ATTITUDE WITH BOTH PILOTS ON THE CONTROLS, THE ACFT BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THIS WITH RUDDER & THROTTLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RT WHICH CAUSED THE LT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE ACFT SPUN ABOUT 160 DEGS & CAME TO REST WITH THE LT WING CONTACTING THE RWY. THE STUDENT FURTHER STATED THAT THE WIND WAS CALM.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,970 hours in all; 250 in the last 90 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 3,503 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:47 pm from OPF
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.