Cessna 140 accident near Moses Lake, Washington, March 3, 1983
On March 3, 1983 at about 1:40 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N89050, was destroyed in an accident near Moses Lake, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 3, 1983 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N89050 · no longer on the register · serial 8054
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PILOTS PRIVATE FARM STRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE 'SPUTTERED AND DIED'. DURING A POWER OFF LANDING ATTEMPT THE PASSENGER GRABBED THE CONTROLS ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE FOUGHT FOR CONTROL OF THE ACFT UNTIL HE BROKE HIS CONTROL WHEEL BUT COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THE TERRAIN AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS IDEAL FOR A LANDING AREA. THE FIELD WAS FLAT DRY AND HARD. NO REASON WAS FOUND FOR THE ENGINE STOPPAGE.
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: 974 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 974 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,654 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1980; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from MWH, 10 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.