Cessna 172 accident near Levelland, Texas, May 31, 2004
On May 31, 2004 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N61663, was substantially damaged in an accident near Levelland, Texas (Levelland Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his inadequate compensation for the winds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2004 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Levelland, Texas · Levelland Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N61663 · registry record · serial 64712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane while landing with a left crosswind. The 33-hour student pilot reported that he configured the airplane with 10 degrees of flaps and airspeed at 80 knots for a second touch and go landing on Runway 17. The pilot stated that he landed on the 6,110-foot by 75-foot wide runway with a prevailing crosswind from 100 degrees at 8 knots. Upon landing, the airplane bounced and began to "float." The airplane touched down a second time, and began to skid to the right. The pilot stated, "I lost control of the plane, and it went off the runway." Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported from 120 degrees at 13 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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2003; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Levelland Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LLN Levelland TX at 3:25 pm
- Destination: LLN Levelland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,110 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LBB
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.