Cessna 182R accident near Rachal, Texas, April 25, 2007
On April 25, 2007 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N6277E, was destroyed in an accident near Rachal, Texas. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent impact with the ground. A factor was the gusty tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2007 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Rachal, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N6277E · no longer on the register · serial 18268356
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While involved in a low-level surveillance operation, the airplane was observed in a steep bank to the left, followed by a bank to the right before nosing into the ground. It was reported that the wind was gusting and that the airplane was flying downwind when it entered the steep left bank. Weather reporting facilities in the surrounding area revealed wind speed at 19 knots, gusting to 26 knots. A post-accident investigation of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies which would have precluded normal operations.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,938 hours in all; 276 in this make and model; 233 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,970 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Rio Grand Valley Air Operations
The flight
- Departed from: MFE Mcallen TX at 11:23 am
- Destination: Rachal TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from MFE, 42 miles away
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.