Cessna 140 accident near Prescott, Arizona, June 27, 2022
On June 27, 2022 at about 3:06 pm local time, a 1947 Cessna 140, registered N2809N, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Prescott, Arizona (Prescott Rgnl - Ernest A Love airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instructions failure to maintain directional during the takeoff ground roll and the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2022 · about 3:06 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Prescott Rgnl - Ernest A Love · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140, built 1947 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2809N · registry record · serial 13070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, after the touch-and-go landing with a pilot receiving instruction at the flight controls, the flaps were retracted, and full power was applied. The pilot receiving instruction pushed the yoke forward to lift the tail, and the airplane veered to the left. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, “cut the power” and corrected with right rudder input. The airplane veered to the right and while he continued to apply corrective actions, the airplane collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,988 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 31,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 17,000 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,643.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2022; 11.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21R, 4,139 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 am from KPRC
Weather report (METAR): KPRC 271453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP199 T02110111 51003
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2022. 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 |
| 2 | Damage Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.