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ERA20LA334

2020-09-26 · New Smyrna Beach, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport X50

Current FAA registration · N89476

Make / Model
CESSNA 140
Year of manufacture
1946 · 74 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570402
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC579C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s decision to depart from a non-suitable surface, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff roll.

Factual narrative

During the takeoff roll from a grass area adjacent the paved runway surface, the airplane’s left main landing gear wheel struck a “muddy pothole.” The airplane’s nose then veered down and to the left and the pilot lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane subsequently struck a fence, and the right wing impacted a tree substantially damaging it. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Soft surface-Decision related to condition
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ERA20LA334.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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