Cessna 140A accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, May 29, 2023
On May 29, 2023 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 140A, registered N1126D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Santa Teresa, New Mexico (Dona Ana County International airport). It was a personal 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 loss of control after encountering a dust devil during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2023 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Teresa, New Mexico · Dona Ana County International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140A, built 1951 · all 140As on the register
- Registration
- N1126D · registry record · serial 15675
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported winds at the airport were 6 gusting to 13 knots, 30 degrees from runway heading during the approach to landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane began to bounce, and she felt a strong crosswind pushing her to the right. She elected to initiate a go-around, however, the right wing lifted, and the left wing impacted the ground. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped. The left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated the airport experiences dust devils frequently and often they are not visible. A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Weather Handbook (FAA-H-8083-28) and the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual found no detailed information listed about dust devils or the potential hazards of flying through dust devils.
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 defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Dust devil/whirlwind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,291 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 2,543 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 8, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90-14F (piston); 4,062 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX at 5:24 pm
- Destination: DNA Santa Teresa NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 9,550 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from KDNA
Weather report (METAR): KDNA 291815Z AUTO VRB05G13KT 10SM CLR 31/M08 A3004 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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 WPR23LA206.