Cessna 170A accident near Hobbs, New Mexico, March 29, 2003
On March 29, 2003 at about 11:22 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N5577C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobbs, New Mexico (Lea County Regional 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 failure to maintain aircraft directional control during takeoff roll. A factor was the runway light's cement foundation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2003 · about 11:22 pm local time
- Place
- Hobbs, New Mexico · Lea County Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N5577C · registry record · serial 19631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The wind was variable at 5 knots. The pilot said that takeoff roll appeared normal, but when he raised the tail wheel, the airplane veered to the left. He said that "a lot of rudder" did not correct the heading deviation. As the airplane approached the edge of the runway, the pilot applied full breaks, and the airplane nosed down. Subsequently, the airplane struck a runway light cement foundation, and nosed over.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 21 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 447 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,935 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOB Hobbs NM at 11:22 pm
- Destination: Hobbs NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 7,398 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from HOB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.