Cessna R172 accident near Mertzon, TX
On May 28, 2019, a Cessna R172 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mertzon, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 28, 2019
- Place
- Mertzon, TX
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 31.260°N, 100.820°W
- NTSB ID
- 20190528X61745
Official records · CEN19FA155
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 28, 2019, about 0550 central daylight time, a Cessna R172K airplane, N2583V, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mertzon, Texas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated at Gaines County Airport (GNC), Seminole, Texas, about 0453 with a destination of Sealy, Texas. The pilot’s family stated the pilot, who owned two irrigation businesses, was transporting a piece of irrigation pipe to a job site. They stated that the pilot had not previously flown the accident route of flight, and that he occasionally flew at night, but most of his flights were during daylight hours. The pilot attempted to complete the flight the night before the accident but reported to his family that he turned around because it was “too dark,” and the pilot told his wife that he would complete the flight early the next morning. His wife suggested that they drive and meet someone halfway, but the pilot stated that he would rather fly. The pilot left his house about 0400 on the morning of the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot's most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was dated May 10, 2016. On the application for that certificate, he reported 780 total hours of flight experience. The medical certificate expired for all classes on May 31, 2018. A pilot logbook recovered from the wreckage contained flights from March 1993 until August 15, 2015, and the pilot’s recent flight experience could not be determined. His fami
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation.
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Browse: Texas · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
