Cessna 172M accident near Beaumont, Texas, June 22, 2003
On June 22, 2003 at about 5:53 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N753MF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaumont, Texas (Southeast Texas Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The instructor's delay in executing a go-around and his failure to maintain aircraft control due to inadequate compensation of wind gusts. A contributing factor was the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2003 · about 5:53 pm local time
- Place
- Beaumont, Texas · Southeast Texas Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N753MF · no longer on the register · serial 64109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 4,582-hour flight instructor who was occupying the right seat, reduced engine power at mid-field to simulate an engine failure for the 18-hour student pilot that was flying the airplane from the left seat. As the airplane rolled out on final landing. The flight instructor noted that the airplane was "approximately 200 feet high" when the student pilot stated that he felt "uncomfortable." The flight instructor reported that as he took command of the airplane and added full engine power, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right and south of the runway. The airplane then struck the ground and bounced. Approximately 80 knots and 60 feet of altitude, the airplane's left wing dropped, and the flight instructor then "chopped the power and fuel." The airplane impacted the ground and come to rest upright off the runway. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 120 degrees and 9 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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,582 hours in all; 1,466 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 4,542 as pilot in command; 443 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 20, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 18 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,641 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BPT Beaumont TX at 5:45 pm
- Destination: BPT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,750 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BPT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.