Cessna L-19E accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, August 14, 2022
On August 14, 2022 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1961 Cessna L-19E, registered N320DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Moriarty, New Mexico (Moriarty Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2022 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · Moriarty Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna L-19E, built 1961 · all L-19Es on the register
- Registration
- N320DA · registry record · serial 61-2986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and airline transport pilot receiving instruction were performing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The first two landings were uneventful, and they had planned for the third to be a full stop with the airplane configured for a three-point landing. During the landing roll, the airplane began to veer left. The pilot applied full right rudder and brakes, but the airplane continued the left turn and exited the runway surface. The airplane ground looped, coming to rest facing approximately 90o from the runway centerline. The right wing was substantially damaged. The pilots both reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,400 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,150 as pilot in command; 2,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,807 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1,662 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,938 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2022; 101 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,702 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KCQC, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCQC 141753Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 26/09 A3035 RMK AO2 SLP174 T02560089 10261 20139 58003
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR22LA306.