Cessna 140 accident near Lopez, Washington, January 18, 1994
On January 18, 1994 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N77190, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lopez, Washington. 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/OWNER'S IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE OIL TEMPERATURE SENSING BULB, THE TOTAL LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL, AND THE SHEARING OF A CONNECTING ROD CAP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 1994 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lopez, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N77190 · no longer on the register · serial 11652
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER CHANGING THE AIRCRAFT'S OIL AND CHECKING THE OIL SCREEN, THE PILOT REINSTALLED THE OIL SCREEN AND OIL TEMPERATURE SENSING BULB. DUE TO BEING DISTRACTED BY HIS INCORRECT SAFETY WIRING OF THE OIL SCREEN NUT, THE PILOT FAILED TO FULLY TIGHTEN THE OIL TEMPERATURE SENSING BULB NUT. ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, AN ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE OIL TEMPERATURE SENSING BULB NUT BACKED OUT OF ITS ATTACH POINT, AND ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL WAS LOST FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE FAILURE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DITCHED IN THE WATERS OFF LOPEZ ISLAND.
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: 1,050 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,203 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1993; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2WA1 Sequim WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: 74S Anacortes WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from NUW, 8 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.