# NTSB CHI06FA117: Cessna U206G, N120HS, Bloomington, IN, April 21, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2006, 23:45 local (Apr 21, 2006, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IN - Coordinates: 39.154724, -86.616668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1547&lon=-86.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 5 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Cessna Aircraft Company, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 63541 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06FA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63541/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63541 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06FA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued descent below decision height and not maintaining adequate altitude/clearance from the trees while on approach. Factors were the the night lighting conditions, and the mist. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - object - tree(s) - decision height - continued below, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane crashed into trees about 1/2-mile from the approach end of runway 35 while the aircraft was conducting a precision instrument approach in night instrument weather. The flight's plotted radar data was consistent with an airplane that was being vectored for an instrument landing system (ILS) approach. The radar track depicted the aircraft flying above glide path and to the right of course until radar contact was lost at 2,000 feet at 2338:34 about two and a half miles from the approach end of the runway. About 2345, the Sheriff responded to telephone calls of a possible airplane crash. A witness described the airplane sounds as an engine acceleration, followed by a thud, and then no more engine sounds were heard. The airport's weather about the time of the accident was: Wind 230 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 1 statute mile; present weather mist; sky condition overcast 100 feet. The published decision height for the approach was 200 feet agl and one-half mile visibility. A post accident inspection of the ILS determined the ILS was operating normally. The tower did not record after hour radio transmissions. An on-scene examination of the aircraft wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. A review of data from an engine monitor showed a reduction in fuel flow consistent with a descent followed by an increase in fuel flow consistent with a full power setting. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 20, 2006, about 2345 eastern daylight time, a Cessna U206G, N120HS, piloted by an instrument rated private pilot, was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain while on approach to runway 35 at the Monroe County Airport (BMG), near Bloomington, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was on file and was activated. The pilot and four passengers sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated from the Purdue University Airport (LAF), near Lafayette, Indiana, about 2245. The person representing N120HS contacted the Terre Haute, Indiana, federal contract facility automated flight service station (AFSS) to get a weather briefing about 2213. The AFSS briefer at position "PF-3" gave the following brief, in part, to the pilot: 2213:25 PF-3 terre haute flight service 2213:27 N120HS hi i'd like to get a weather briefing 2213:29 PF-3 yes ma'am 2213:30 N120HS um lafayette lima alpha foxtrot and bloomington bravo mike golf and any interesting weather that might be between them 2213:39 PF-3 okay uh what's the aircraft call sign you're using 2213:42 N120HS november one two zero hotel sierra 2213:45 PF-3 and what time are you leaving lafayette 2213:47 N120HS we will probably be leaving in about twenty minutes to half an hour 2213:58 PF-3 okay and is this a v f r flight or i f r 2214:02 N120HS for v f r 2214:03 PF-3 v f r only 2214:05 N120HS *(ho ho) wait i'm sorry go ahead 2214:08 PF-3 is that v f r only 2214:10 N120HS yes yes sir well depending on what the weather's like 2214:13 PF-3 okay well we do have an airmet for i f r for the southern portion of indiana now 0214:18 N120HS okay 0214:19 PF-3 and they're saying that that may continue the rest of the evening into early tomorrow morning and 2214:23 N120HS okay 2214:23 PF-3 looking at the bloomington weather they do have i f r ceilings eight hundred broken right now with visibility eight miles 2214:30 N120HS *(okay) 2214:30 PF-3 so i wouldn't recommend v f r 2214:32 N120HS okay well 2214:33 PF-3 uh 2214:33 N120HS definitely not i'm sorry i got i looked at the *(tafs they) didn't predict that okay can i file an i f r flight plan with you 2214:39 PF-3 sure would you like me to continue with the rest of the weather and and all that 2214:42 N120HS yeah that would that would be great 2214:44 PF-3 okay uh that's the only airmet uh going down that way for you uh looks like a low pressure system we've got uh one in western kentucky tennessee another one's up around the chicago area *(it's a) stationary front running from that one across northern indiana and ohio and then uh high pressure over to our east precip uh nothing really along that route there is some in southeastern indiana but it shouldn't affect your flight at all 2215:08 N120HS *(okay) 2215:08 PF-3 at lafayette uh the winds are two eighty at four ten miles skies clear below twelve thousand sixteen and seven and two nine nine one that's an automated report en route looking at a few clouds at thirteen thousand with niner miles and then again in the bloomington area winds two forty at three eight miles ceiling eight hundred broken seventeen and sixteen and two nine nine four that's also an automated report at bloomington and i don't see any uh pilot reports right now along that route for you the forecast lafayette was saying the rest of the evening a few clouds at six thousand winds three ten at five en route uh calling for *(uh) it looks like three thousand scattered six to ten thousand broken to overcast they were saying occasional showers in central indiana til zero three hundred though there's nothing really showing except for a little northeast of indy and then uh for the bloomington area uh six hundred broken five thousand overcast visibility better than six winds one sixty at four now they were saying within an hour you might see six hundred scattered five in mist around bloomington four hun four thousand broken and winds one fifty at four but the airmet was calling for i f r to continue the rest of the night into early tomorrow 2216:26 N120HS boy am i glad i called you wow 2216:27 PF-3 and 2216:28 N120HS okay 2216:28 PF-3 and then winds aloft uh would you like three and six for those 2216:32 N120HS um just three please 2216:33 PF-3 three thousand you're looking at light and variable winds at three thousand 2216:37 N120HS okay great 2216:38 PF-3 and notams uh lafayette r c o one two two three five is out of service 2216:44 PF-3 and uh it says the class d surface area and uh tower only available through zero one hundred daily down at Bloomington uh showing tower and class d surface area available through zero one thirty daily and three five pilot controlled lighting is out of service at bloomington indiana and otherwise en route i don't see anything else en route for you notam d wise as far as t f rs no unpublished t f rs along that route at this time 2217:15 N120HS *(great) 2217:15 PF-3 *(we'd) appreciate uh pilot reports flight watch is shut down for the evening but any any flight service frequencies along the route for you would you like to go ahead and file then 2217:24 N120HS yes sir 2217:25 PF-3 okay i'm ready to copy 2217:26 N120HS (unintelligible) november one two zero hotel sierra it's a cessna two oh six slash alpha airspeed a hundred and a hundred and thirty knots flying at three thousand feet departing lafayette lima alpha foxtrot lafayette direct bloomington indiana bravo mike golf five on board three hours of fuel the aircraft is based in south bend pilots name ... and aircraft is red white and blue 2218:12 PF-3 (unintelligible) uh what's your time en route from lafayette to bloomington 2218:15 N120HS time on route forty minutes 2218:19 PF-3 and you say you're leaving in just a few minutes i put that out for zero two thirty that's on the half hour 2218:23 N120HS *(perfect) The transcript of the weather briefing showed that the pilot did not give an alternate airport to the briefer when the flight plan was filed. The briefer did not ask for an alternate airport and was not required to ask for one. About 2319, the pilot checked on with the Air Route Traffic Control Center controller working the Shelbyville, Indiana, sector (SHB R). The transcript of their transmissions, in part, stated: 2319:57 N120HS indy center november one two zero hotel sierra is with you at five thousand 2320:01 SHB R november one two zero hotel sierra indianapolis center roger how do you hear center 2320:04 N120HS ah loud and clear 2320:05 SHB R okay and ah what type of approach are you going to shoot into bloomington this morning or this evening 2320:11 N120HS we'd like to go for a runway three five six ah i l s 2320:14 SHB R i l s three five okay you can expect that ah one two zero hotel sierra do you have the ah asos weather 2320:19 N120HS yes sir 2320:20 SHB R all right 2323:11 SHB R cessna one two zero hotel sierra you're one two miles north of bloomington cross bloomington at or above two thousand six hundred cleared for the i l s runway three five approach report procedure turn inbound 2323:23 N120HS oh any way we can have vectors to the---ah final course 2323:26 SHB R not a problem at all ma'am what's your heading 2323:30 N120HS ## Aircraft - Registration: [N120HS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N120HS-2013-02-21), registration cancelled 2013-02-21, S/N U20604728, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna U206G - Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20604728 - Airframe hours: 2125.7 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-520-F 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Yatish Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005 - Departed: LAF, LAFAYETTE, IN - Destination: BMG, Bloomington, IN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BMG, Monroe County, runway 35, 6,500 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 379 total, 144 in this make and model, 312 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: BMG, 1 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 20060420011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060420011049A), Apr 20, 2006: Cessna U206G, Bloomington, IN, Destroyed, 5 fatal. (-23) Aircraft was on an ILS-35 approach to the Bloomington Indiana airport after requesting and receiving radar vectors to the final approach course, when it… ## Docket (32 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=63541. 51.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274167&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274168&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Indiana State Police Site Sketch (item 3, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Indiana%20State%20Police%20Site%20Sketch-Master.PDF - Approach Chart and Legend (item 4, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274170&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Approach%20Chart%20and%20Legend-Master.PDF - 911 Call Transcripts (item 5, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=911%20Call%20Transcripts-Master.PDF - Mechanic's Statement (item 6, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Flight Instructor's Statement (item 7, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Instructor%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Engine Monitor Graph (item 8, .PDF, 998 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Monitor%20Graph-Master.PDF - Plotted Radar Data Supplied By Cessna (item 9, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274176&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Plotted%20Radar%20Data%20Supplied%20By%20Cessna-Master.PDF - Web Based Flight Tracking (item 10, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Web%20Based%20Flight%20Tracking-Master.PDF - FAR Part 91 Excerpt (item 11, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAR%20Part%2091%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 12, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 13, .PDF, 299 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274182&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 14, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274184&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Accident Site (item 15, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274186&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Accident Site (item 16, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Accident Site (item 17, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274190&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo 4. Tree (item 18, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274192&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20%20Tree-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Flap Jackscrew (item 19, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274194&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20%20Flap%20Jackscrew-Master.PDF - Photo 6. Rotor Cage (item 20, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274196&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206.%20%20Rotor%20Cage-Master.PDF - Photo 7. Rotor (item 21, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274197&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%207.%20%20Rotor-Master.PDF - Photo 8. HSI Rotor (item 22, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274198&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%208.%20%20HSI%20Rotor-Master.PDF - Photo 9. HSI Rotor Cage (item 23, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%209.%20%20HSI%20Rotor%20Cage-Master.PDF - Photo 10. Fuel Filter (item 24, .PDF, 967 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274201&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2010.%20%20Fuel%20Filter-Master.PDF - Photo 11. Fuel From Line to Distribution Valve Tested for Presence of Water (item 25, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274203&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2011.%20%20Fuel%20From%20Line%20to%20Distribution%20Valve%20Tested%20for%20Presence%20of%20Water-Master.PDF - Photo 12. Engine (item 26, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274204&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2012.%20%20Engine-Master.PDF - Photo 13. Removed Sparkplugs (item 27, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2013.%20%20Removed%20Sparkplugs-Master.PDF - Photo 14. Left Vacuum Pump (item 28, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274206&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2014.%20%20Left%20Vacuum%20Pump-Master.PDF - Photo 15. Right Vacuum Pump (item 29, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2015.%20%20Right%20Vacuum%20Pump-Master.PDF - Photo 16. Check Valve Manifold (item 30, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40274208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2016.%20%20Check%20Valve%20Manifold-Master.PDF - Petition for Reconsideration (item 31, .PDF, 23.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Petition%20for%20Reconsideration-Master.PDF - Response to Petition for Reconsideration (item 32, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410175&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Response%20to%20Petition%20for%20Reconsideration-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.