Cessna 140 accident near Port Townsend, Washington, October 30, 2017
On October 30, 2017 at about 6:50 pm local time, a 1946 Cessna 140, registered N72339, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Port Townsend, Washington (Port Townsend Intl 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 for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2017 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Port Townsend, Washington · Port Townsend Intl Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 Undesignat, built 1946 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N72339 · registry record · serial 9523
- 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 performed a preflight inspection; at that time, the fuel tanks contained 12 gallons of fuel total, with 7 gallons in the left tank and 5 gallons in the right tank. The pilot then departed to practice touch-and-go landings with the fuel selector in the right tank position. During the fourth takeoff about 300 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly stopped developing power. With little time to restore power, the pilot pitched the airplane down slightly, then switched to the left tank, but was unable to restore power. He then switched back to the right tank but was again unable to restore power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing; the airplane impacted a stand of trees before coming to rest on its left side. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and left wing. The left fuel tank was breached during the accident sequence and no fuel was observed in the tank. The right fuel tank, which had not been breached, contained about 1 ½ gallons of aviation fuel. The airplane's operations manual does not list an unusable fuel amount. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the total loss of engine 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 8,636 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2017
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,403 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 2017; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,451 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 SERIES (piston); 1,403 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0S9 Port Townsend WA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 0S9 Port Townsend WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from 0S9, 1 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR18LA020.