- Date
- May 2, 2021, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Cuba, NM
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9127BCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20210502007299A
- Case key
- 103016
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff after an encounter with a gusting wind, which resulted in a wing strike.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that before takeoff he noted a strong dust devil at the far end of the airstrip which appeared to dissipate. During the takeoff and while passing through 60 mph, the right wing suddenly lifted, and the pilot had not control. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane pivoted around. The engine separated and the wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9127B
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 36727
- Built
- 1958
- Airframe hours
- 4,040.3
- Engine
- Continental O-300C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Murrow William R
- Registered owner
- Murrow William R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 14, 2020 · 15 hours before
- Destination
- NM99 · Lindrith, NM
- Airport
- NM2 · Cuba Landing Strip Airport, runway 24, 4,137 × 40 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- BasicMed, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- August 24, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,757 total · 2,879 in this make and model · 3,738 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 255° at 8 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- Leidos Flight Service online
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.