Cessna TU-206F N51198
16 November 1992 · Clearlake, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 16 November 1992 at about 00:51 local time, a Cessna TU-206F registered N51198, operated by Falcon Aerial, was involved in an accident near Clearlake, California, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:51
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clearlake, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 38.9595, -122.6398
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU-206F
- Registration
- N51198
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Falcon Aerial
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Santa Rosa → Chico
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- LAX93FA042
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE EXHAUST VALVE FAILING DUE TO A COMPLETE FRACTURE WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSE OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: 1) THE TERRAIN NOT BEING SUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING, AND 2) LOW AMBIENT LIGHT WHICH HAMPERED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO SEE THE TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS WERE IN CRUISE FLIGHT ON A VFR CROSS COUNTRY WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. THE PILOT, WHO WAS BEING FLIGHT FOLLOWED BY AN FAA CENTER, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO A NEARBY AIRPORT. WITHIN ABOUT 2 MINUTES THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY QUIT. THE PILOT ENTERED A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH HILLY TERRAIN. NO SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE LIGHTING CONDITIONS WERE REPORTED AS 'DUSK TO DARK.' THE PILOT AND ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. AN OFF SITE EXAMINATION AND TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 5 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE STEM BROKE JUST ABOVE THE VALVE HEAD. THE VALVE HEAD FELL INTO THE CYLINDER AND THE ACTION OF THE PISTON CAUSED A HOLE TO BE BROKEN THROUGH THE PISTON CENTER CROWN STRUCTURE. THE VALVE HEAD WAS FOUND WEDGED BETWEEN THE CRANKCASE STRUCTURE AND THE CRANKSHAFT, PREVENTING CRANKSHAFT ROTATION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Cessna TU-206F accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1987 | Cessna TU-206F | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Malcolm Wornoff | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Oct 2000 | Cessna TU-206F | San Mateo, Mexico | Alas de Socorro, Mexico | Fatal | 2 |
| 26 Jul 2001 | Cessna TU-206F | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 2002 | Cessna TU 206F | Swan River, Canada | US Department of Interior | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 2003 | Cessna TU-206F | Palencia, Guatemala | Tecnica Universal S.A. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |