Cessna 152 accident near Farmington, New Mexico, July 4, 1995
On July 4, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757VK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmington, New Mexico (Four Corners Regional 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 INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN HER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Farmington, New Mexico · Four Corners Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757VK · no longer on the register · serial 15280036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT SHE WAS EXECUTING A NORMAL CROSSWIND LANDING ON RUNWAY 23, WHEN A 'GUST' OF WIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO 'BALLOON' AND VEER TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT SIGN/MARKER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ATIS INFORMATION REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE FROM 290 DEGREES AT 20 GUSTING 30 KNOTS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT AT 1347, THE WIND WAS FROM 310 DEGREES AT 15 GUSTING 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 58.8 HOURS.
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: 59 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,151 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 1995; 99 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 6:15 pm
- Destination: FMN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:47 pm from FMN
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.