Cessna 195 accident near Midland, Texas, October 2, 2010
On October 2, 2010 at about 4:10 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N4666T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Midland, Texas (Midland International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The private pilot’s loss of control during the landing roll and the certificated flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2010 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Midland, Texas · Midland International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4666T · no longer on the register · serial 7802
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) and the private pilot receiving instruction were requested to exit the runway by the airport’s control tower. Based on the airplane’s speed and that it had already passed the intersection taxiway, the private pilot reported that he was unable to comply. The tower requested that they exit the active runway as soon as possible. The private pilot tried to exit the runway; however, the airplane’s speed was too fast during the turn, resulting in the airplane ground-looping. The pilots noted that, during the ground-loop, the airplane’s left gear, left wing tip, and left elevator had sustained damage. The CFI reported no preimpact malfunctions with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Last flight review: July 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,977 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 2,812 as pilot in command; 710 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 6, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,492 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 2010
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs L4 /R755-7 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eastland Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: MAF Midland TX
- Destination: MAF Midland TX
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 10, 8,302 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KMAF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4666T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.