Cessna 172H accident near Manvel, Texas, October 15, 2003
On October 15, 2003 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3760R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manvel, Texas (Wolfe Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the attempted go-around resulting in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the crosswind landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2003 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Manvel, Texas · Wolfe Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3760R · no longer on the register · serial 17255560
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While landing on a grass turf runway, the pilot lost directional control and attempted a go-around. During the attempted go-around, the airplane stalled and impacted the terrain. The pilot stated the airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and then drifted to the left. The pilot attempted a go-around; however, shortly after the airplane became airborne, the left wing dropped and impacted the terrain. At the time of the accident, the airport manager reported the wind was a direct crosswind from approximately 110 degrees at 15 knots and gusting. On his NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section, the pilot reported, "Better control by pilot during crosswind landing."
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: 300 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 232 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2003; 8.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IER Natchitoches LA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 3T2 Manvel TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 2,910 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.