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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 5, 1984 · Cessna 140 · N1978N

Lovelock, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 5, 1984
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Lovelock, NV
Aircraft
Cessna 140
Tail Number
N1978N
Operator
Roland W Coulson
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA84FA102

THE PLT HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED A WX BRIEFING AT 0444 FOR A FLT FROM CHEYENNE,WY TO LOVERLOCK,NV. PRIOR TO DEPARTING CHEYENNE AT 0630, THE FBO TOLD THE PLT THAT THE LOVELOCK ARPT WAS FLOODED. THE PLT REPLIED HE WOULD LAND AT A STRIP IN TOWN. FUEL RECEIPTS SHOWED THE ACFT WAS REFUELED ON 5/4/84 AT RAWLINGS, WY; EVANSTON, WY; WENDOVER, UT; & WINNEMUCCA, NV. AT ABOUT 2030, THE OWNER OF THE PRIVATE STRIP HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER & TURNED ON A RED BEACON ATOP HIS RESIDENCE. HE OBSERVED THE ACFT PASS OVER THE STRIP AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, PROCEEDING EAST, WITH SOUNDS OF REDUCED POWER. HE SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE ACFT INITIATE AN APPARENT LEFT TURN, THEN PLUNGE TO THE GROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGICAL TEST OF THE PLT'S BLOOD REVEALED ONLY A LOW LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE (8%). A WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS. THE ACFT HAD LANDED AT THIS STRIP SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

THE PLT HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED A WX BRIEFING AT 0444 FOR A FLT FROM CHEYENNE,WY TO LOVERLOCK,NV. PRIOR TO DEPARTING CHEYENNE AT 0630, THE FBO TOLD THE PLT THAT THE LOVELOCK ARPT WAS FLOODED. THE PLT REPLIED HE WOULD LAND AT A STRIP IN TOWN. FUEL RECEIPTS SHOWED THE ACFT WAS REFUELED ON 5/4/84 AT RAWLINGS, WY; EVANSTON, WY; WENDOVER, UT; & WINNEMUCCA, NV. AT ABOUT 2030, THE OWNER OF THE PRIVATE STRIP HEARD THE ACFT FLY OVER & TURNED ON A RED BEACON ATOP HIS RESIDENCE. HE OBSERVED THE ACFT PASS OVER THE STRIP AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, PROCEEDING EAST, WITH SOUNDS OF REDUCED POWER. HE SAW THE LIGHTS OF THE ACFT INITIATE AN APPARENT LEFT TURN, THEN PLUNGE TO THE GROUND. THE ACFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. A TOXICOLOGICAL TEST OF THE PLT'S BLOOD REVEALED ONLY A LOW LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE (8%). A WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS. THE ACFT HAD LANDED AT THIS STRIP SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:40 PDT
Nearest AirportLovelock Air Park (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length1700 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 140
Tail NumberN1978N
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorRoland W Coulson
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85-12-F · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 48 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind250° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data