Cessna 172N accident near Edgewood, New Mexico, July 10, 2014
On July 10, 2014 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 172N, registered N4842G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Edgewood, New Mexico (Sandia Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's in-flight loss of control resulting from a crosswind gust encountered immediately after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2014 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewood, New Mexico · Sandia Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N, built 1980 · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4842G · no longer on the register · serial 17273389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the airplane encountered a crosswind gust just as it lifted off during takeoff, which caused the airplane to drift toward the south side of the runway. The pilot described the encounter as uncontrollable; full aileron and rudder inputs were unable to maintain control. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 50 feet from the initial impact point. The pilot did not report any failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane before 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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 980 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,299 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1N1 Edgewood NM at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 1N1 Edgewood NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,830 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from ABQ, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.