Cessna 172H accident near San Angelo, Texas, May 3, 1990
On May 3, 1990 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3941R, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Angelo, Texas (Ducote 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF IN VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1990 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Angelo, Texas · Ducote · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3941R · registry record · serial 1725541
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT PREPARING TO TAKE-OFF FOR A VFR SUPERVISED LOCAL AREA SOLO FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED AN INCREASE IN WIND VELOCITY AND A RAPID CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION. HE LOST CONTROL WHEN THE WIND ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT. THE PILOT'S SUBSEQUENT CONTROL INPUTS RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT ROLLING LEFT AND PITCHING NOSE OVER. THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION FOLLOWING DISSIPATION OF THE KINETIC ENERGIES.
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: student
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,700 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Observation at 6:35 am from SJT
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.