Cessna 140A accident near Colville, Washington, July 27, 1986
On July 27, 1986 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140A, registered N9425A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colville, Washington (Colville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- July 27, 1986 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Colville, Washington · Colville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140A · all 140As on the register
- Registration
- N9425A · registry record · serial 15246
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MAKING A POWER OFF APPROACH TO SIMULATE A FORCED LANDING AN OVER SHOOT WAS ASSURED. THE PLT ADDED PWR AND THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING. IN ORDER TO AVOID TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THE PILOT MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN TO LAND IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE ACFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A FENCE AND THEN STRUCK THE GROUND IN A FLAT ATTITUDE. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER. THE TEMPERATURE ON THE SURFACE WAS 90 DEGREES AND THE PILOT HAD BEEN USING AUTOMOBILE FUEL. NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE COULD BE FOUND.
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: 457 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 456 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S23 Ione WA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 63S Coleville WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.