Cessna 140 accident near Albion, New York, October 15, 1995
On October 15, 1995 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N72239, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albion, New York (Gaines Valley Aviation airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate planning/decision and compensation for wind conditions, resulting in the airplane nosing over during the taxi.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1995 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albion, New York · Gaines Valley Aviation · 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
- N72239 · no longer on the register · serial 9412
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OBSERVED THE WINDSOCK STICKING STRAIGHT OUT AND DOWN RUNWAY 27. DURING THE BACK TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, TO RUNWAY 27, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WITH THE AIRPLANE. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED, '...[THE PILOT] STATED THAT HE DID NOT CALL FLIGHT SERVICE TO CHECK THE ACTUAL WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY BEING REPORTED IN THE AREA....[THE PILOT] INDICATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE STRONG WIND CONDITIONS BUT HE DECIDED TO...TAXI TO THE RUNWAY AND SEE IF HE HAD ANY PROBLEMS CONTROLLING THE AIRPLANE IN THE WIND....' THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AT ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AT 1450, FROM 260 DEGREES AT 23 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KNOTS.
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: 272 hours in all; 240 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,999 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 1995; 2,198 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NY06
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 23 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ROC, 24 miles away
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.
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.