Cessna 414 accident near Pleasanton, Texas, June 16, 2014
On June 16, 2014 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 1973 Cessna 414, registered N1671T, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Pleasanton, Texas (Pleasanton Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted landing due to an encounter with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2014 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasanton, Texas · Pleasanton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 UNDESIGNAT, built 1973 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- N1671T · no longer on the register · serial 414-0464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot obtained the airport's weather information prior to landing, which included wind from 250 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 20 knots. He realized that he would land with a 90 degree crosswind on either runway and elected to land on the runway 34. When the airplane was on short final, the pilot realized the wind had shifted to a direct tailwind and he immediately executed a go-around. The pilot established a 500 feet per minute climb at an airspeed of 120 knots. When the airplane was about 200-feet-above the ground, the airplane began to descend and the airspeed began to decrease. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent and lowered the airplane's nose in an attempt to gain airspeed, but the airplane stalled and rolled left The pilot leveled the wings and the airplane impacted the ground in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and right wing. Wind reported five minutes after the accident was from 130 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 19 knots. The pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engines that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.
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 approach (VFR go-around) 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 › Tailwind › Response/compensation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,021 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 12, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 6,349 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ping Ze Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ADS Addison TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: PEZ Pleasanton TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from PEZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on July 24, 2014. 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, 9 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.