Cessna 172 accident near Cuba, New Mexico, May 2, 2021
On May 2, 2021 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1958 Cessna 172, registered N9127B, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Cuba, New Mexico (Cuba Landing Strip Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during takeoff after an encounter with a gusting wind, which resulted in a wing strike.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2021 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cuba, New Mexico · Cuba Landing Strip Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172, built 1958 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N9127B · registry record · serial 36727
- 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 before takeoff he noted a strong dust devil at the far end of the airstrip which appeared to dissipate. During the takeoff and while passing through 60 mph, the right wing suddenly lifted, and the pilot had not control. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane pivoted around. The engine separated and the wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,757 hours in all; 2,879 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,738 as pilot in command; 787 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 24, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,040.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 14, 2020; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300C (piston); 4,055 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NM99 Lindrith NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,137 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 255° at 8 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:42 am from Leid
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA180.