Cessna 140 accident near Quinter, Kansas, October 2, 1988
On October 2, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N73051, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quinter, Kansas. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Quinter, Kansas · 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
- N73051 · no longer on the register · serial 10259
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT REDUCED POWER WITHOUT THE USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT. THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT ADDED CARBURETOR HEAT AND FULL THROTTLE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BACKFIRING. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FARM IMPLEMENT RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD WERE NOT INJURED.
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: 240 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1988; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5KS5 Leoti KS at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from HLC, 51 miles away
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.