Cessna 172K accident near San Antonio, Texas, November 15, 2010
On November 15, 2010 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N7183G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near San Antonio, Texas (Kestrel Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to land with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2010 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · Kestrel Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7183G · no longer on the register · serial 17258883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to several witnesses, the pilot was attempting to land with a tailwind. According to the pilot, he was trying to land when the wind became very strong and swirling. The pilot attempted to go around when the wing stalled. The airplane impacted several trees and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airframe and its systems revealed no anomalies. The closest weather observation station recorded wind from 190 degrees at 10 knots.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,950 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 3,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2008
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,974 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 7, 2010
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KERV Kerrville TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 1T7 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.60 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KSAT, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.