NTSB Factual Report

On August 30, 1994, at 1825 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 140, N2150N, lost total engine power during takeoff climb from the Jackson County Airport in Ravenswood, West Virginia, and collided into trees. The pilot received a serious injury and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported on his Aircraft Accident Report form, "On final approach, I slipped to the left to a normal landing. I applied full power and took off. When I was about 100 feet in the air and over the end of the runway the engine suddenly quit running. I immediately pulled the carburetor heat with no effect. I pumped the throttle several times. The first two times the engine caught but did not continue to run. I then switched tanks but nothing changed. All the while I was still controlling the plane. By this time the plane had begun to contact the tops of the trees and was rapidly slowing." The airplane collided with the trees and came to rest on foliage about six feet above the ground.

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector wrote in his accident report, "Pilot stated that during last approach to landing a slip maneuver to the left was utilized with the left fuel tank selected. He [the pilot] believes that the slip maneuver caused a interruption of the fuel flow from that tank."

Post-accident examinations of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE POORLY PLANNED APPROACH WHICH RESULTED IN UNPORTING OF FUEL FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.