On August 26, 1983, a Cessna 140 (registration N90037) was involved in an aviation accident near College Place, WA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported power loss after takeoff; witnesses saw sputtering engine and failure during climb. Post-accident inspection found about 4 gallons of fuel, fuel selector on left tank.
Incident Overview
An aircraft struck power line poles while attempting an emergency landing. The pilot had previously reported a power loss during takeoff. Witnesses observed the engine sputtering during takeoff and ceasing operation during the climb-out phase.
Fuel Status and Selector Position
A post-accident investigation revealed that the aircraft's fuel tanks contained approximately 4 gallons total—about 1 gallon in the left tank and 3 gallons in the right tank. The fuel selector was positioned to the left tank. The pilot stated that during the preflight inspection, the fuel gauges indicated the left tank was approximately one-quarter full and the right tank was empty.