Cessna 140 accident near Keytesville, MO
On December 7, 2015, a Cessna 140 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Keytesville, MO. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 7, 2015
- Place
- Keytesville, MO
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.542°N, 92.899°W
- NTSB ID
- 20151207X11116
Official records · CEN16FA054
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 6, 2015, about 2110 central standard time, a Cessna 140 airplane, N90123, impacted terrain near Keytesville, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight . Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The flight's point of origin and destination could not be determined. A witness saw the airplane approach from the northeast and begin to make clockwise turns overhead. The diameter of the turns was estimated to be between ¼- and ½-mile wide. The lights of the airplane were visible overhead, but it appeared as though the airplane was in the clouds or fog. During the third overhead circle, the airplane's lights became brighter, as though it had flown out of the clouds, and the airplane turned south away from the witness. The airplane then abruptly descended toward terrain, and the witness heard the sound of an impact . The witness reported that the engine sounded normal before impact. He remarked that, due to the clouds, the stars were not visible; however, he could clearly see the lighted top of a 400-ft-tall tower. The pilot was not in radio contact with any air traffic control facility. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot's logbook was not located during the course of the investigation, and his total flight experience and time flown at night could not be determined. The pilot did not hold an instru
Probable cause
The non-instrument-rated pilot's decision to operate in dark night conditions with low clouds, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's use of methamphetamine, which impaired his decision-making abilities.
More accidents in MO
- British Aerospace Jetstream 32, Oct 20, 2004
- Pacific Aerospace Ltd 750XL, Jun 14, 2026
- De Havilland DHC-6-100, Jul 29, 2006
- Beech E-55, Jul 13, 2001
- Cessna U206G, Mar 21, 1998
Browse: Missouri · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
