How many Cessna 140As are registered in the US?

231, in the FAA aircraft registry.

When was the Cessna 140A built?

From about 1949 to 1953. Half of those registered today were built by 1950.

What engine does the Cessna 140A have?

Most have the Continental C90 (75% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental O-200.

How many accidents has the Cessna 140A had?

13 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 2 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.

How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 140A have?

16 current ADs name the 140A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 17 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Ownership guide

Cessna 140A

231 registered in the US, built from about 1949 to 1953, 2 seats, most with the Continental C90. Its Airworthiness Directives, its engines', and what to check before buying one.

The fleet

Registered in the US: 231
Built: 1949 to 1953
Half built by: 1950
Seats: 2
Engine type: Piston
Most common engine: Continental C90

Engines installed

Continental C90173 aircraft (75%) · 5 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental C8533 aircraft (14%) · 4 ADs, 0 with a repeat action
Continental O-2007 aircraft (3%) · 8 ADs, 0 with a repeat action

From the FAA aircraft registry, rebuilt daily. Years are those recorded on each registration.

Airworthiness Directives

16 current ADs name the 140A airframe, 0 with a repeat action; 2 more were superseded. Its engines carry 17 more. 6 equipment ADs name the model.

No current airframe AD mentions a repeat action.

Every AD for the Cessna 140A

Accident record

13 accidents since 2008, 2 fatal (4 people killed in them, a midair counting both aircraft), 0 aircraft destroyed.

What happened

Loss of control on ground7
Loss of control in flight2
Abnormal runway contact1
Flight control sys failure1
Fuel contamination1
Landing gear collapse1

Phase of flight

Landing9
Maneuvering2
Takeoff1
Prior to flight1

The latest

Date	Where	What happened	Injuries	NTSB number
2025-09-27	Los banos, CA	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ANC25LA113
2024-03-02	Paragould, AR	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	CEN24LA127
2023-05-29	Santa teresa, NM	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	WPR23LA206
2014-11-08	Gilroy, CA	Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight	Fatal	WPR15FA039
2014-05-10	Cachoeira do sul	Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight	Fatal	ERA14WA247
2013-04-26	Newburgh, NY	Landing: Loss of control on ground	None	ERA13LA224

From the NTSB's aviation accident database, refreshed monthly; accidents only, homebuilts left out. Counts, not rates: nobody publishes how many hours each model flies, and a training fleet flies far more than a private one. Look up any case by its number in the NTSB's CAROL.

What it costs to run

Per hour flown

Hours flown a yearhr/yrFuel burngal/hrTypical cruise; your POH and how you fly decide it.Fuel price$/galEngine overhaul$A quote from an engine shop.Hours to overhaulhrThe engine maker's published time between overhauls.Maintenance reserve$/hrEverything else that wears: tires, brakes, avionics, the unexpected.

Per year, flown or not

Insurance$/yrHangar or tiedown$/yrAnnual inspection$/yrLoan payments$/yrEverything else$/yrSubscriptions, database updates, the property tax some states charge.

Fuel: $0/hr
Engine reserve: $0/hr
A year: $0
All in, per hour: $0/hr

Filled in for a Cessna 140A with the Continental C90: the engine maker's published overhaul time. Everything else is yours to fill in: insurance, hangar and overhaul prices vary too much by pilot, airport and shop for a default to mean anything. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Before you buy one

Run its N-number through the AD check: every AD that names its airframe and engine, as a checklist to take to the logbooks.
For each repeat-action AD, find the last compliance in the logbooks and when the next one is due.
Compare the engine's time since overhaul with its maker's published overhaul time, and look for the reason behind any long gap in flying.
6 equipment ADs name the 140A (a muffler, a seat belt, a display): find out which of that equipment is installed.
Check the registration, the airworthiness certificate and the date of the last annual inspection.
Work out the sales or use tax your state will charge with the aircraft tax calculator.

The rest of the 140 family

Cessna 140 · 1,581

Questions

How many Cessna 140As are registered in the US?: 231, in the FAA aircraft registry.
When was the Cessna 140A built?: From about 1949 to 1953. Half of those registered today were built by 1950.
What engine does the Cessna 140A have?: Most have the Continental C90 (75% of those registered); others have the Continental C85, Continental O-200.
How many accidents has the Cessna 140A had?: 13 in the NTSB's database since 2008, 2 of them fatal. The most common defining event was loss of control on ground. These are counts, not rates: how many hours the fleet flew is not published.
How many Airworthiness Directives does the Cessna 140A have?: 16 current ADs name the 140A airframe, 0 of them with a repeat action, and 17 more name its engines. Whether each applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number and installed equipment.

Figures from the FAA aircraft registry and the FAA's Airworthiness Directives, rebuilt daily. An AD listed for a model is one to read; whether it applies to one aircraft depends on its serial number, equipment and records.