Cessna 320E accident near San Marcos, Texas, November 1, 2012
On November 1, 2012 at about 11:05 am local time, a Cessna 320E, registered N10PM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near San Marcos, Texas (San Marcos Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to takeoff in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 2012 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · San Marcos Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 320E · all 320Es on the register
- Registration
- N10PM · registry record · serial 320E-0087
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A fixed-base operator employee observed the pilot preflight his twin-engine airplane and then pulled the pilot’s airplane from the hangar. The employee gave the pilot directions to runway 17 but was unable to see him taxi to that location because of fog. The non-instrument-rated pilot subsequently took off in night instrument meteorological conditions with visibility less than 2 1/2 miles. The airplane crashed less than 1 mile south of the airport shortly after takeoff and witnesses saw and heard the resultant explosion. Video footage of the accident revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a 45-degree nose-down attitude. Examination of the airplane and engines did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the wreckage distribution, low visibility, and the pilot’s lack of an instrument rating, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
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 visual reference during initial climb
- VFR encounter with IMC during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total instrument experience › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Fog › Decision related to condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 783 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 733 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 2011
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor GTSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KHYI San Marcos TX at 11:03 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KHYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 CEN13FA039.