# NTSB CEN13CA234: Cessna 175A, N6955E, Albuquerque, NM, April 20, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 20, 2013, 13:04 local (19:04 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.133609, -106.79 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1336&lon=-106.7900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Albuquerque FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86694/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86694 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA234 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain airplane control during taxi due to an inadvertent encounter with a dust devil. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 175A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon arrival at his destination, he realized there were dust devils in the vicinity that were diminishing or moving away; he decided they would not be a factor. He landed the airplane and was taxiing slowly on a taxiway when he saw a dust devil about 300 feet to his left front. He said that he had slowed to a stop by the time the dust devil engulfed the airplane, but the airplane was lifted about 3 feet off the taxiway surface. The airplane then impacted the ground on the right wingtip and propeller, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during his arrival to land he was aware of dust devils in the vicinity that were diminishing or moving away and were no factor. The airplane had just landed and was taxiing slowly on a taxiway when the pilot reported that another dust devil suddenly materialized about 300 feet to his left front. He had slowed to a stop by the time the dust devil engulfed the airplane which completely lifted the airplane about 3 feet off the taxiway surface. The airplane then impacted terrain on the right wingtip and propeller resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6955E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6955E), registered now, S/N 56455, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 175A - Registry model: [Cessna 175A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-175a) (registry code 2072504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental GO-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-go-300-series) (registry code 17024, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 56455 - Airframe hours: 3158 - Engines: CONT MOTOR GO-300 SERIES 175 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2013, 3 hours before - Departed: 1N1, Edgewood, NM - Destination: AEG, Albuquerque, NM - Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II Airport, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 16, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 295 total, 283 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KAEG ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86694. 346 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 346 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.