Pilot Debrief

CESSNA TU206G near Fall City, WA — 2015-10-03

Final reportWPR16LA003
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Date
2015-10-03
Location
Fall City, WA, USA
Aircraft
CESSNA TU206G
Registration
N206HL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The airplane’s collision with the ground short of the runway for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was on approach to his home airport when the airplane crashed behind a restaurant about 1 mile from the airport and sustained damage to the wings and left fuel tank. The pilot was seriously injured and did not respond to repeated requests for information about the circumstances of the accident. The postaccident airframe and engine examination revealed that the No. 2 cylinder top spark plug had combustion deposits on the electrode and the insulator was broken; however, the examination revealed no other evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although it is possible that the engine experienced a degradation of power that could have resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain altitude to reach the airport, the reason for the airplane's collision with the ground short of the runway could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have maintained IFR instead of switching to VFR under uncertain conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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