- Date
- July 5, 1994, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cleveland, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N4945UCessna 206E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940705017559A
- Case key
- 19105
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Loss of engine power with the cause undetermined. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
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.
Analysis
After approximately one hour en route, the flight descended from 4,500 feet MSL to 1,500 feet MSL. As cruise flight was established, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump. He made a decision that he was committed to landing and selected a field. During the landing sequence the airplane struck a fence, fence post, and trees. The left wing separated from the airframe. The airplane came to rest inverted on a measured 140 degree magnetic heading. The left fuel tank integrity was compromised. Fuel was found in the right wing tank and the gascolator. No cause for the power loss was determined.
Factual narrative
On July 5, 1994, at 0900 central daylight time, a Cessna 206E, N4945U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Cleveland, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross country flight.
The pilot reported that he departed Ruston Municipal Airport, Ruston, Louisiana at 0800. He further reported that following approximately one hour en route, the flight descended from 4,500 feet MSL to 1,500 feet MSL for landing at David Wayne Hooks Airport, Spring, Texas. Just as cruise was established, a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot switched fuel tanks and activated the fuel boost pump. He made a decision that he was committed to landing and selected a field. The field was bordered by a fence, fence posts, and trees. Prior to touchdown the pilot turned off the fuel selector and the electrical system.
During the landing flare/touchdown the airplane struck a fence and a fence post. During the landing roll the airplane hit another fence and several trees. Upon hitting the trees the left wing separated from the airframe. The airplane came to rest inverted on a measured magnetic heading of 140 degrees.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site. The left wing fuel tank integrity was compromised. Physical evidence of fuel was present. Fuel was found in the right wing and the gascolator.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4945U
- Reported as
- Cessna 206E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 210-3645
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-A, 285 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Horizon Aviation
- Registered owner
- Phillippi, Thomas E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- RSN · Ruston, LA
- Destination
- DWH · Houston, TX
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
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 15 in this make and model · 485 as pilot in command · 135 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IAH, 30 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.