Cessna 140 accident near Crescent Lake, Oregon, May 1, 2015
On May 1, 2015 at about 2:47 am local time, a 1947 Cessna 140, registered N2514N, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Crescent Lake, Oregon. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to restart the engine for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2015 · about 2:47 am local time
- Place
- Crescent Lake, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 G, built 1947 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2514N · registry record · serial 12771
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight, at a cruise altitude of about 7,500 ft mean sea level (msl), the airline transport pilot reported that the engine experienced a total loss of power after he allowed the left wing fuel tank to run empty. He switched fuel tanks but was unable to restart the engine. The pilot realized that the airplane was not within gliding distance of the nearest airport and decided to conduct a forced landing on a nearby road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck several trees and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane established continuity of the fuel system with no anomalies observed. The left wing fuel tank was empty, and the right wing fuel tank was nearly full. A test run of the engine was conducted using the fuel from the right tank. The engine operated normally with no anomalies observed, and the reason for the pilot's inability to restart the engine following the loss of power could not be 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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Engine shutdown during enroute (cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine starting › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFR Medford OR at 1:30 am
- Destination: 6K5 Sisters OR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 350° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 am from BDN, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR15LA155.