# NTSB CEN13CA206: Cessna T206H, N7824G, Sabinal, TX, February 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 13, 2013, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Sabinal, TX - Coordinates: 29.20861, -99.525833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2086&lon=-99.5258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 86516 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86516/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86516 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA206 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to properly identify the airstrip, which resulted in him landing the airplane off of the airstrip in soft soil causing the nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was approaching to land on a private unimproved runway. The field immediately adjacent to the landing area had been recently plowed. The pilot was landing into the direction of the rising sun, which was just coming over the horizon as he was making his approach. The pilot mistakenly identified a plowed portion of the field for the intended landing area and proceeded to land on it. As he touched down, he noticed the landing area was softer than it should have been, so he kept the nose wheel off the ground as long as he could. The nose wheel finally set down in the soft dirt and dug in, resulting in the airplane flipping over on its back. Both of the airplane's wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder received substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot was approaching to land on a private unimproved runway. The field immediately adjacent to the landing area had been recently plowed. The pilot was landing into the direction of the rising sun, which was just coming over the horizon as he was making his approach. The pilot mistakenly identified a plowed portion of the field for the intended landing area and proceeded to land on it. As he touched down, he noticed the landing area was softer than it should have been, so he kept the nose wheel off the ground as long as he could. The nose wheel finally set down in the soft dirt and dug in, resulting in the airplane flipping over on its back. Both of the airplane's wings, vertical stabilizer, and rudder received substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7824G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7824G-2014-01-31), registration cancelled 2014-01-31, S/N T20608704, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T206H - Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-aj1a) (registry code 42004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T20608704 - Airframe hours: 924 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2012 - Departed: IWS, Houston, TX - Destination: Sabinal, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 58 in this make and model, 375 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KUVA, 10 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130213004669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130213004669A), Feb 13, 2013: Cessna T206H, Uvalde, TX, Substantial damage. On 02/13/2013, pilot/sole occupant attempted to land at a private ranch landing strip. There was a plowed strip of land next to the normal landing strip.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86516. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392915&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.