FTW02LA015

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 206 · Midlothian, TX · October 15, 2001

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 15, 2001, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
Place
Midlothian, TX
Injuries
1 serious, 1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N5206UCessna 206
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 20, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20011015035419A
Case key
53621

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft while taxiing from a landing. A contributing factor was the gusty wind conditions.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTaxi - from landing
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTaxi - from landing
Terrain condition - drop-off/descending embankment

Analysis

The commercial pilot reported that as he was exiting the runway after landing rollout, he experienced a sudden gust of wind. Subsequently, the right wing "lifted" and the left wing impacted an embankment. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, winds were from 270 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots.

Factual narrative

On October 15, 2001, at 1620 central daylight time, a Cessna 206 single-engine airplane, N5206U, was substantially damaged after impacting an embankment during taxi at the Eagles Nest Airport, Midlothian, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the owner and operator of the aircraft, received minor injuries, and the one passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Paris, Texas, at 1600, and was destined for Midlothian.

In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that as he was exiting runway 17 after landing rollout, he experienced a sudden gust of wind. Subsequently, the right wing "lifted" and the left wing impacted an embankment, resulting in the nose landing gear being sheared off, the propeller being bent, and approximately 3 feet of the outboard section of the left wing being damaged.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that prior to departing Paris, Texas, he obtained the automated weather from the Redbird Airport which is located approximately 16 miles north of the destination/accident airport. Conditions were reported as sky clear, and wind from 270 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot further stated that at the time of the accident the wind was from 270 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He added that a cold front was approaching and the wind was "not steady."

Aircraft

Registration
N5206U
Reported as
Cessna 206
Category
Airplane
Serial number
206-0206
Airframe hours
3,650
Engine
Continental IO-520A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Thomas L. Porter
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 2, 2001 · 45 hours before
Departed
PRX · Paris, TX
Destination
2TS6 · Midlothian, TX
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
2TS6 · Midlothian, runway 17, 3,800 × 150 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
64
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
October 18, 1999
Seat
Front
Flight hours
4,937 total · 1,300 in this make and model · 4,937 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 9 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.