Cessna 140 accident near Marana, Arizona, January 4, 2014
On January 4, 2014 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N76463, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Marana, Arizona (Marana Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain directional control during the landing roll out when the right brake did not release completely after he applied, then released brake pressure, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was the taxi speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2014 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marana, Arizona · Marana Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 G, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N76463 · registry record · serial 10895
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had completed four landings, and while at a fast taxi he touched both toe brakes. The airplane began a gradual turn to the right. He corrected the right turn first with left rudder control then left brake, however, neither action corrected the tightening right-hand turn. When the airplane encountered the edge of the runway, it nosed down and tilted to the left, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot described the right brake as "dragging" throughout the accident sequence.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 853 hours in all; 14.5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 4, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,844.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 29, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 1,442 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KAVQ Marana AZ
- Destination: KAVQ Marana AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,892 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from kryn, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 21, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.