LAX95LA236

Factual narrative

On July 2, 1995, at 1400 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N61602, collapsed the landing gear following a loss of directional control during the takeoff ground roll at the New Cuyama, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by Santa Barbara Pilot Center of Goleta, California, and was rented by the pilot for the flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The pilot had flown to New Cuyama earlier in the day, and was beginning a local personal flight from the airport at the time of the accident. In his statement, the pilot reported that during the takeoff he rotated and the aircraft lifted off, but quickly settled back onto the runway. The aircraft then veered left off the runway, encountered soft soil, and collapsed the nose landing gear. Review of the notices to airmen (NOTAM) file disclosed that a NOTAM was issued in March denoting that the New Cuyama Airport is closed. The most current FAA airport facility directory issued before the accident was examined. Under the entry for the airport, the remarks section states: "Airport closed indefinitely. Runway 10-28 (has) numerous potholes and debris and weeds." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF HE ROTATED AND THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF, BUT QUICKLY SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY, ENCOUNTERED SOFT SOIL, AND THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. REVIEW OF THE NOTICES TO AIRMEN (NOTAM) FILE DISCLOSED THAT A NOTAM WAS ISSUED IN MARCH DENOTING THAT THE NEW CUYAMA AIRPORT IS CLOSED. UNDER THE ENTRY FOR THE AIRPORT IN THE MOST CURRENT FAA AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY, THE REMARKS SECTION STATES: 'AIRPORT CLOSED INDEFINITELY. RUNWAY 10-28 (HAS) NUMEROUS POTHOLES AND DEBRIS AND WEEDS.' Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12