Cessna TP206A accident near Alpine, Texas, June 14, 2012
On June 14, 2012 at about 10:29 pm local time, a Cessna TP206A, registered N4630F, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Alpine, Texas (Alpine-Casparis Municipal airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2012 · about 10:29 pm local time
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Alpine-Casparis Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TP206A · all TP206As on the register
- Registration
- N4630F · no longer on the register · serial P206-0230
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll a strong gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right. The pilot’s efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose gear, the lower fuselage, empennage, and right wing. There were no preaccident anomalies 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 defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 618 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 529 as pilot in command; 163 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 262 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2012; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Utah State University
The flight
- Departed from: 89TE Lajitas TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: E38 Alpine TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,002 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 19 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:25 pm from KE38
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 12, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo from Utah State University Regarding Changes in Flight Tracking, Pilot Training, and Current Weather Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Summary | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.