LAX01LA260
2001-07-25 · San Luis Obispo, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed
Airport SBP
Current FAA registration · N2903N
- Make / Model
- CESSNA 140
- Engine
- CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 hp)
- Seats / Engines
- 2 seats · 1 engine
- Last airworthiness date
- 19560324
- ADS-B equipped
- Yes — Mode-S A2F848
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing that resulted in dragging the wing and nosing over.
Factual narrative
On July 25, 2001, about 1447 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2903N, owned and operated by the pilot, ground looped and nosed over during landing rollout on runway 29 at McChesney Field, San Luis Obispo, California. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local area flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the airport about 1400. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he made an uneventful three-point touchdown. Thereafter, the airplane veered left, and he applied rudder pressure and engine power to correct for the yawing moment. The pilot reported "it happened so fast I was unable to make effective correction with rudder pedals." Thereafter, the right wing contacted the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot made an uneventful three-point touchdown. Thereafter, the airplane veered left, and the pilot applied rudder pressure and engine power to correct for the yawing moment. The pilot reported that the swerve happened so fast he was unable to take effective corrective action. Airplane control was lost and it nosed over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2001_LAX01LA260.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
Search this event elsewhere
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