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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 16, 1986 · Cessna P206C · N8621Z

Grand Chenier, LA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 16, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Grand Chenier, LA
Aircraft
Cessna P206C
Tail Number
N8621Z
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW86FA115

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE MARSHY TERRAIN WHILE IN A VERY SHALLOW DESCENT AND WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AND AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED (I.E.,CRUISE). IT THEN CARTWHEELED AND SLID TO A STOP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE WING TIPS ALONG WITH AN IN-CABIN TANK FOR AN EXTRA FUEL CAPACITY OF 75-80 GALLONS. ALL TANKS APPARENTLY HAD BEEN FILLED. THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND INTENDED LANDING ALONG WITH THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ARE UNKNOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH CONTRABAND CARGO. THE AUTOPILOT 'ALTITUDE HOLD' WAS ENGAGED. NO RADAR TRACK OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND, PROBABLY DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT MOST PROBABLY DESCENDED DUE TO A BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CHANGE WHILE THE PILOT WAS ASLEEP OR INATTENTIVE AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE MARSHY TERRAIN WHILE IN A VERY SHALLOW DESCENT AND WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE AND AT A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED (I.E.,CRUISE). IT THEN CARTWHEELED AND SLID TO A STOP. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE POWER BEING DEVELOPED AT IMPACT. EXTENDED RANGE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE WING TIPS ALONG WITH AN IN-CABIN TANK FOR AN EXTRA FUEL CAPACITY OF 75-80 GALLONS. ALL TANKS APPARENTLY HAD BEEN FILLED. THE POINTS OF DEPARTURE AND INTENDED LANDING ALONG WITH THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ARE UNKNOWN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH CONTRABAND CARGO. THE AUTOPILOT 'ALTITUDE HOLD' WAS ENGAGED. NO RADAR TRACK OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND, PROBABLY DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT MOST PROBABLY DESCENDED DUE TO A BAROMETRIC PRESSURE CHANGE WHILE THE PILOT WAS ASLEEP OR INATTENTIVE AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna P206C
Tail NumberN8621Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · IO-520-A · Reciprocating · 285
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 61 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsUnknown
LightNr
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data