Cessna 140 accident near Creve Ceour, Missouri, June 14, 1989
On June 14, 1989 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89316, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creve Ceour, Missouri (Creve Ceour airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PLAN THE APPROACH AND MAINTAIN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SOD LANDING STRIP. THE PILOT'S INNATTENTION TO THE GRASS STRIP RESULTED IN A LANDING IN A SOFT WHEAT FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1989 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Creve Ceour, Missouri · Creve Ceour · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89316 · registry record · serial 8344
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC WAS PRACTICING T&G LANDINGS TO A SOD STRIP AND HAD COMPLETED SEVERAL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ON THIS ATTEMPT, THE PIC STATED HE MADE A 3-POINT LANDING TO A WHEAT FIELD HE MISTOOK FOR THE SOD LANDING STRIP. THE GROUND WAS SOFT AND UPON TOUCHING THE LANDING GEAR BECAME MIRED, AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. THE WHEAT FIELD BORDERS AND PARALLELS THE SOD STRIP HE HAD BEEN USING.
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: 348 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 348 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1H0 at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,020 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N89316 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.