Cessna 172L accident near New Braunfels, Texas, September 6, 2003
On September 6, 2003 at about 10:11 pm local time, a Cessna 172L, registered N7632G, was destroyed in an accident near New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels Municipal Airpor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed sufficient for flight resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 2003 · about 10:11 pm local time
- Place
- New Braunfels, Texas · New Braunfels Municipal Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7632G · no longer on the register · serial 17259332
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the airplane entered an extremely steep climb, stalled, and impacted the terrain in a nose low, left wing low attitude. According to local authorities, the three occupants of the airplane were on a reported weekend hunting trip the night before the accident flight. Ticket stubs from a bus company indicated the three individuals departed approximately 0300 on a bus and then arrived at a family members residence approximately 0630. After approximately six hours of rest, the 200-hour pilot called the flight school and reserved the airplane for an unplanned flight. Witnesses observed the airplane taxi to runway 17. Runway 35 had been the active runway that was used during an airshow that just ended. During takeoff, the airplane lifted off "into an extremely steep climb," and appearing "kind of tippy." The airplane started a turn to the left, "not very high off the ground with the wings dipping back and forth." One witness stated, "[the] pilot appeared to attempt a recovery, but seemed to overcorrect and pull up too fast." The airplane "pitched downward towards the left and entered a spin towards the right" and impacted the ground. Flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane at the accident site. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine or airframe. No radio headsets, charts, flight gear, or logbooks were located within the aircraft wreckage. The airplane was found to be within weight and balance limits.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 200 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 7, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,751.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 4, 2003; 72.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southern Wings, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BAZ New Braunfels TX at 10:11 pm
- Destination: ILE Killeen TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,364 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from BAZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.