Cessna 140 accident near Mesquite, Nevada, May 10, 2009
On May 10, 2009 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N73017, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mesquite, Nevada (Mesquite airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during landing resulting from binding of the left wheel's brake actuating system for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2009 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Mesquite, Nevada · Mesquite · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N73017 · no longer on the register · serial 10222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he made a normal landing on the runway. During rollout, he felt a vibration coming from the landing gear. When he exited the runway, the airplane turned abruptly to the left, as if the left brake had locked up. The uncommanded sharp left turn resulted in the airplane exiting the pavement and impacting a cement culvert. The examination of the runway revealed witness marks consistent with a locked left wheel brake. An examination of the airplane's left wheel assembly revealed that the tire rotated freely. No external evidence of brake failure was found. The reason for the intermittent anomaly associated with the brake assembly or cylinder was not determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,250 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command; 4,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 25, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,609 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 19, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 67L Mesquite NV at 6:55 pm
- Destination: 67L Mesquite NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 5,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 100°F (38°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from 67L
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.