Cessna 172C accident near Pecos, Texas, April 22, 2003
On April 22, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N1667Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pecos, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control while landing. A contributing factor was the gusty wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pecos, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1667Y · no longer on the register · serial 17249367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was unable to locate the intended destination airstrip and attempted to land on an open road. During the landing flare, the airplane encountered a "hard" gust of wind from the right. The airplane began moving to the left and the left main landing gear contacted a dirt mound. The pilot advanced the throttle and attempted to realign the airplane with the road; however, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the airplane contacted a fence and the ground. According to the pilot, at the time of the accident the wind was from the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
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: 77 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,253 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2002; 45.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FST Fort Stockton TX
- Destination: NONE Pecos TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.