# NTSB FTW89LA033: Cessna TU206D, N72249, Alamo, TX, December 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 27, 1988, 19:13 local (Dec 28, 1988, 01:13 UTC)
- Place: Alamo, TX
- Coordinates: 26.180652, -98.110557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1807&lon=-98.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89LA033

## Probable cause

AIRPLANE'S COLLISION WITH TREES AND TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING AT NIGHT FOLLOWING AN ENGINE FAIURE. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM WHICH THE OPERATOR HAD FAILED TO CORRECT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,modification - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER ENTERING U.S. AIR SPACE, THE PLT (A MEXICAN NATIONAL) CANCELED HIS DVFR FLT PLAN. ABOUT 9 MIN LATER, HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY & SAID THE ENG HAD LOST POWER. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED.ACCORDING TO AN FAA FORM 337, AUX FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN INSTALLED IAW STC SA2479WE. HOWEVER, THE INSTALLATION WAS NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE LOG BOOKS; THE WT & BALANCE INFO WAS NOT REVISED & THE FUEL SELECTOR & GAUGES WERE NOT PLACARDED TO REFLECT THE INCREASED CAPACITY. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS CHANGING FUEL TANKS WHEN THE ENG DEVELOPED A 'VAPOR LOCK' & WOULD NOT RESTART. HE STATED THE 'VAPOR LOCK' PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED ON PREVIOUS FLTS, BUT HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN RESTARTING THE ENG. ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID THE PROBLEM HAD NOT MANIFESTED ITSELF PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE AUX TANKS. AN EXAM OF THE TANKS REVEALED NO BOOST PUMPS OR TRANSFER PUMPS WERE INSTALLED. APRX 12.5 GAL OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE ACFT; UNUSABLE FUEL WAS 7 GAL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND BETWEEN THE LEFT TANK & OFF POSITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72249](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72249-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N U206-1339, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206D
- Registry model: [Cessna TU206D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-tu206d) (registry code 2073344) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U206-1331
- Airframe hours: 7656
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-M 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Gonzalez, Jose J.
- Registered owner: Gonzalez, Jose J
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 1988, 44 hours before
- Departed: MTMX, TAMPICO
- Destination: MFE, MCALLEN, TX
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; foreign; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFE, 8 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 19881227056869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881227056869A), Dec 27, 1988: Cessna TU206D, Mc Allen, TX, Destroyed. Reported engine out due vapor lock after switching tanks. Fuel selector between empty left tank and off.

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.

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