# Accident 20230606006749A: Cessna 207, Harlingen, TX, June 6, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 2023, 12:08 local time
- Place: Harlingen, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: 575J
- Location: 26.2281° N, 97.6587° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2281&lon=-97.6587&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91157, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91157) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 207 (registry code 2073602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-520 series (registry code 17032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,221 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA231) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230606006749A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT LOST POWER DURING CLIMB AND LANDED AIRCRAFT IN FIELD WITH TALL CROPS, DAMAGED LEFT WING FORWARD SPAR. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE DETRIMINED SUBSTANTIAL IN COORDINATION WITH NTSB AND NTSB ENGINEERING.

PILOT STATEMENT VERBATUM:

AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED TO DISPERSE STERILE FRUIT FLIES, ON THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE DAY, I WAS CLEARED TO DEPART RWY. 17L AT HRL. ON THE DEPARTURE CLIMB, AT 500 FEET, I REDUCED MANIFOLD TO 25 HG, AND RPM TO 2500 FOR THE CLIMB, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE'S POWER REDUCED TO IDLE, I ASKED FOR A RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, TOWER CLEARED ME TO LAND 35R, WHEN I SAW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A TIGHT TURN, I REQUESTED RWY 31, BECAUSE I WAS CLOSER AND IT DIDN'T REQUIRE A STEEP BANK, AS I'M TURNING BACK TO THE AIRPORT I INITIATE THE FAILED ENGINE SEQUENCE WITH NO RESULTS, THE ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE POWER, BY THAT TIME I REALIZED I WAS TOO LOW TO MAKE RWY. 31 WITHOUT HITTING BUILDINGS AND POSSIBLY HURTING PEOPLE ON THE GROUND, I NOTICED OFF MY RIGHT SIDE A NICE  FIELD, AND ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE FIELD, I NOTIFIED ATC OF MY DECISION AND PROCEEDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT ON THE FIELD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN23LA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA231), Jun 6, 2023: Cessna 207 (N91157), Harlingen, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper installation of the throttle control arm to the throttle control cable attachment end, which resulted in a failure of the control arm and a loss of engine power in flight.

## Other reports on N91157 (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20110824018649I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110824018649I), Aug 24, 2011: Cessna 207 (N91157), Harlingen, TX, Minor damage. Aircraft was flying, loss power in flight. Aircraft had approx 70-77 gallons of fuel at the beginning of the day. Aircraft flew a total of 2.4 hours befor…
- [Incident 20110818019969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110818019969I), Aug 18, 2011: Cessna 207 (N91157), Harlingen, TX, No damage. During cruise pilot lost throttle control of engine, engine shut down and pilot performed emergency landing into a grass field. No damage to aircraft or…
- [Accident 19850918048729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850918048729A), Sep 18, 1985: Cessna 207 (N91157), Chuathbaluk, AK, Substantial damage. Landed in river after fuel was exhausted. Right filler cap broken. Unable to visually inspect quantity on preflight

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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