NTSB FTW91LA075 — 1991-05-02 · ALPINE, Texas, United States

N86116 has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (NORTH AMERICAN AT-6D, built 1959), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N86116 Cessna 337D None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S CONTINUED TAKEOFF IN UNFAVORABLE WIND.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED A DUST DEVIL DURING TAKEOFF AND FLEW INTO IT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND AS IT DRIFTED OFF OF THE DIRT AIRSTRIP CENTER LINE ONE WING CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A TALL CACTUS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_FTW91LA075.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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