Cessna 195 accident near Heber-Overgaard, Arizona, May 5, 2012
On May 5, 2012 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N3442V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Heber-Overgaard, Arizona (Overgaard Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff roll upon encountering a wind gust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2012 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Heber-Overgaard, Arizona · Overgaard Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 UNDESIGNAT · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N3442V · registry record · serial 7146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, on takeoff roll, just after the tail came up, the airplane encountered a right quartering tailwind gust, which forced the airplane off the left side of the runway. The pilot subsequently corrected back to the right, and the airplane crossed the runway, a gully, and a taxiway. He then intentionally applied right brake and ground looped the airplane to avoid colliding with a hangar, which resulted in the collapse of both main landing gears. A postcrash fire erupted shortly thereafter, which consumed the airplane.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,165 hours in all; 535 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 2,165 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 25, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 3, 2011; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs 755 A2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AZ82 Heber-Overgaard AZ at 1:45 pm
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from SOW, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.