Cessna 337D accident near Alpine, Texas, May 2, 1991
On May 2, 1991 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 337D, registered N86116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alpine, Texas (Taurus Mesa airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S CONTINUED TAKEOFF IN UNFAVORABLE WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1991 · about 9:30 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Alpine, Texas · Taurus Mesa · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 337D · all 337Ds on the register
- Registration
- N86116 · registry record · serial 337-1085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED A DUST DEVIL DURING TAKEOFF AND FLEW INTO IT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND AS IT DRIFTED OFF OF THE DIRT AIRSTRIP CENTER LINE ONE WING CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A TALL CACTUS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C/D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N86116 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 337 Skymaster 370 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-360-C/D 1,854 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,945 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW91LA075.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.