Cessna 195 accident near Socorro, New Mexico, May 22, 2019
On May 22, 2019 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1950 Cessna 195, registered N1008D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Socorro, New Mexico (Socorro Municipal 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 airplane control while landing with a quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2019 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Socorro, New Mexico · Socorro Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 A, built 1950 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N1008D · registry record · serial 7616
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, as he approached the airport for landing, the wind was reported as calm. During landing, the tailwheel-equipped airplane touched down fast and bounced. When the airplane settled back onto the runway, it started to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and brakes; the left brake went all the way down and the airplane exited the right side of the runway and ground looped, and the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. The pilot reported that when he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wind had increased. Examination of the brake system did not reveal any anomalies. Review of recorded weather observations from the accident airport indicated that, about the time of the accident, quartering tailwind conditions existed for the pilot’s chosen runway, with a tailwind component of about 8 knots and a right crosswind component of about 3 knots. Given this information, the accident is consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tailwind.
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 landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,778 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,778 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 14, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,044 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2019; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,351 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-915-5SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LBB Lubbock TX at 12:30 pm
- Destination: ONM Socorro NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 5,841 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from ONM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 7, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation - Federal Aviation Administration Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Statement of Email - Meteorology | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.