- Date
- November 15, 1994, 20:18 local (Nov 16, 1994, 02:18 UTC)
- Place
- San Benito, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- XBEPFCessna 206E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19304
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
The pilot's improper attempt to make an off airport landing at night and the inadvertent ground loop. A factor was the dark night light condition.
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
An unidentified pilot ground looped the airplane while landing in an unlighted open field at night. The nose landing gear collapsed and the right wing spar was fractured. The data plate was not found on the foreign registered airplane. No cargo or baggage was found aboard the airplane. All seats had been removed with the exception of the two front seats. The pilot and the foreign owner of the airplane were not located. A u.s customs team inspected and tested the airplane for evidence or signs of drugs or illegal operation. No evidence of drugs was found.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 1994, at 2018 central standard time, a Cessna 206E, Mexican registration XBEPF, was substantially damaged during landing near San Benito, Texas. The unidentified pilot was presumed to be uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the night flight.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the right wing spar was fractured. Additionally he found that a data plate was not installed on the airplane, and that all the seats had been removed with the exception of the pilot's and copilot's seats. The inspector also noted that the aft portion of the cabin floor had been modified with a six inch square aperture. The nose landing gear was collapsed and the propeller blades were found bent around the engine cowling. Ground scars made by the nose wheel were indicative of a ground loop.
The abandoned airplane was found by a law enforcement patrol car. The pilot was not located, and no evidence of blood was found in the cockpit or surrounding area. There was no cargo or baggage aboard the airplane.
A U.S Customs team inspected and tested the airplane for evidence or signs of involvement in the transportation of drugs. No evidence of drugs was found.
The Mexican registered owner never answered any correspondence, nor completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2. Neither the local police or the sheriff department had any knowledge regarding the recovery or disposition of the wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- XBEPF
- Reported as
- Cessna 206E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U206-01697
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Amilcar Carrascosa Larrion
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- HRL