Cessna 140 accident near Santa Paula, California, September 16, 2009
On September 16, 2009 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Cessna 140, registered N326DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2009 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N326DW · registry record · serial 11220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot performed a preflight inspection, which included a visual confirmation of the fuel in each tank. Using a fuel quantity stick that the pilot had calibrated, she estimated that both the left and right wing fuel tanks contained about 6 gallons of fuel. She performed two uneventful touch-and-go landings, followed by a full-stop landing. While turning the airplane into the left crosswind after the fourth takeoff, the engine lost all power. The pilot force-landed the airplane in an adjacent dry riverbed, where it sustained substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and tail. Postaccident examination revealed a residual quantity of fuel in the left fuel tank; however, damage to the airplane and its subsequent inverted attitude could have caused fuel to drain from this tank prior to inspection. Additionally, fuel was observed in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. The pilot reported the total duration of the flight to be 0.2 hours. Data was not available to confirm the airplane's fuel consumption during takeoff and climb phases. Further examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal obvious anomalies that would have explained the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,936 hours in all; 438 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 2,887 as pilot in command; 1,301 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 2009; 4 hours since
- 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: SZP Santa Paula CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,713 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from CMA, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.