# NTSB Accident LAX97LA171
> **Cessna 140** · 1997-04-30 · PALO ALTO, CA, USA · MINR
## Event
- **NTSB number:** LAX97LA171
- **Event ID:** 20001208X07764
- **Type:** Accident
- **Date:** 1997-04-30
- **Location:** PALO ALTO, CA, USA
- **Coordinates:** 37.449863, -122.100601
## Injuries
- **Highest injury:** MINR
- **Fatal:** 0
- **Serious:** 0
- **Minor:** 1
- **Uninjured:** 0
- **Total aboard:** 1
## Aircraft
- **Make:** Cessna
- **Model:** 140
- **Registration:** N2031N
- **FAR Part:** 091
- **Engines:** 1
- **Damage:** DEST
## Conditions
- **Light:** DAYL
- **Weather:** VMC
## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to obtain and/or maintain adequate airspeed during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.  A factor relating to the accident was: the degraded climb performance due to an unauthorized modification of the airplane, which increased the airplane's maximum fuel tank capacity and stall speed.

---
*Source: [NTSB CAROL](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search?source=ntsb&type=event&ntsb_number=LAX97LA171) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*