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Atlas / NTSB / FTW99LA268

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event FTW99LA268

1999-09-25 TYLER, Texas, United States Airport · TYR None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N76731

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 140

Year of manufacture

1946 · 53 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19551027

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AA5E64

Registrant of record

ACKERMAN GARY A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The locked left brake, which made normal braking impossible, and resulted in the airplane nosing down.

Factual narrative

On September 25, 1999, approximately 1000 central daylight time, a Cessna 140A tail-wheel equipped airplane, N76731, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing at the Tyler Pounds Field Airport near Tyler, Texas. The private pilot, who was the owner and operator of the airplane, and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from Tyler, Texas, at 0915. In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that during the landing roll, he applied brakes to slow down. When the pilot released brake pedal pressure, the left brake remained engaged and pulled the airplane towards the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that he applied right brake pressure to keep the airplane going straight down the runway. When the airplane slowed, it nosed down and came to rest. The FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, stated that the fuselage was buckled near the top right door hinge and the right strut fuselage attaching point. The propeller, engine, and engine mounts were also damaged. The pilot reported he was landing his tailwheel airplane on an asphalt runway. During the landing roll, he applied the brakes, but when he released brake pressure, the left brake remained engaged, pulling the airplane to the left side of the runway. He applied the right brake to compensate. When the airplane slowed, it nosed down. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1999_FTW99LA268.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.