Cessna 140 accident near Halls, Tennessee, February 19, 2008
On February 19, 2008 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2086V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Halls, Tennessee (Arnold Field). 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 flight instructor's inadequate remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2008 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Halls, Tennessee · Arnold Field · 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
- N2086V · no longer on the register · serial 14369
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was preparing the student pilot to solo. The airplane touched down uneventfully, however, toward the end of the landing roll, the CFI instructed the student pilot to make a 180-degree turn, and back-taxi on the runway. As the student pilot began a right turn, the airplane traveled over a hump in the runway, which startled the student pilot. The student pilot applied right rudder in an attempt to move away from the hump, and the CFI perceived him as over-controlling the airplane. The CFI inputted left rudder pedal; however, the student pilot had also depressed the right brake. The airplane continued to turn right, the left main landing gear traveled off the runway, and the left wing contacted a berm causing substantial damage. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilots report any.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,448 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 6,099 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 48 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M31 Halls TN at 11:35 pm
- Destination: M31 Halls TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from DYR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.