Cessna 140 accident near Port Orchard, Washington, January 3, 1991
On January 3, 1991 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N77179, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Orchard, Washington (Vaughan'S Egg Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO INITIATE AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AT A TIME THAT LEFT ADEQUATE RUNWAY REMAINING TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 1991 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Orchard, Washington · Vaughan'S Egg Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N77179 · no longer on the register · serial 11641
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 140 WAS OBSERVED AT A LOWER THAN USUAL ALTITUDE AS IT FLEW ALONG THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT ELECTED TO DISCONTINUE HIS TAKEOFF, TOUCHED DOWN, BOUNCED, AND THEN OVERRAN THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO A PERPENDICULAR HIGHWAY, THEN IMPACTED WITH THE EMBANKMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
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: 768 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:13 pm from PWT, 9 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.