Cessna 140 accident near Tehachapi, California, August 31, 2018
On August 31, 2018 at about 2:02 am local time, a 1947 Cessna 140, registered N2167V, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi Muni 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's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2018 · about 2:02 am local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 Undesignat, built 1947 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2167V · no longer on the register · serial 14396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the preflight inspection, the pilot determined that the left fuel tank was empty and the right tank contained 4 gallons of fuel (capacity 12 1/2 gallons). After discovering that the airport fuel pumps were inoperative, the pilot decided to proceed with the flight and remain in the airport traffic pattern. The pilot performed a series of touch-and-go takeoff and landings and during the initial climb phase of the fifth takeoff, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted a 180° turn back to the runway, during which the airplane impacted the taxiway, resulting in substantial damage. Due to the airplane's vintage, operational and performance details such as fuel consumption and unusable fuel quantity were unavailable; however, a placard on the fuel gauges indicated that takeoff should not be attempted if the tank was filled to just under 1/4 of its capacity. It is likely that the airplane consumed the remainder of the usable fuel during the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total 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
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 173.8 hours in all; 67.6 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15.1 in the last 30 days; 136.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 19, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,806.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 2018; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 1,385 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSP Tehachapi CA at 2:01 am
- Destination: TSP Tehachapi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 am from KTSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on May 11, 2021. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Cessna 150 Owner's Manual (Excerpt, O-200-A Information) | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.