Cessna 172N accident near Graham, Texas, March 26, 2011
On March 26, 2011 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N9961E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Graham, Texas (Graham Muncipal Airport). It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 2011 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Graham, Texas · Graham Muncipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N9961E · registry record · serial 17272300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that as he neared the runway for touchdown, the airplane experienced a left-quartering crosswind that pushed him off the runway. He added that since the wheels had not touched the runway, he added power for a go-around. However, the airplane continued off the right side of the runway and the right main landing gear impacted an airport sign. The airplane subsequently came to rest in an upright position, just off the runway surface. An examination of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane’s fuselage right main gearbox and firewall structures were buckled.
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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 71 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCWC Wichita Falls TX at 5:30 pm
- Destination: KRPH Graham TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.57 inHg
- Observation at 6:04 pm from KRPH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN11CA248.