Cessna 180 accident near Roswell, New Mexico, March 29, 2013
On March 29, 2013 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N7714A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Roswell, New Mexico (Roswell airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 on the landing roll after encountering a gust of wind, 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
- March 29, 2013 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Roswell, New Mexico · Roswell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N7714A · registry record · serial 32611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he encountered a gust of wind during the landing roll, and the tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped. The left wing, left horizontal stabilizer, and the left elevator were substantially damaged. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane or engine.
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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 841 hours in all; 584 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 3, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,608.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-470 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPBG Big Spring TX at 7:45 pm
- Destination: ROW Roswell NM
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from ROW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.