# NTSB WPR19LA190: Cessna P206, N131DV, Cascade, ID, July 14, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 14, 2019, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Cascade, ID - Coordinates: 44.537917, -115.3579 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5379&lon=-115.3579&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99862/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99862 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA190 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot’s improper leaning of the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P206, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2073304), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna P206, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=2073304), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna P206, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2073304), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a normal preflight and engine run-up, the airplane departed. About 75 ft above ground level (agl), the engine rpm smoothly deteriorated to a total loss of power. The pilot configured the airplane in a nose-low pitch attitude in an attempt to avoid stalling and made an off-airstrip landing. The pilot could not recall his next actions but thought he may have unintentionally turned the fuel selector to the OFF position after the loss of power, thinking he was switching to the other (fuller) wing tank. The airplane collided with the thick brush off the end of the runway and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. During a postaccident examination, investigators found the fuel selector in the OFF position. The engine successfully started and ran during a test run. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a malfunction or failure with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not know the reason for the loss of engine power but opined that he possibly leaned the engine too aggressively for the density altitude. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2019, about 0630 mountain daylight time, a Cessna P206, N131DV, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Sulphur Creek Ranch Airport, Cascade, Idaho. The pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot’s family owned the remote ranch, which was only accessible by hike or flying to the private-use landing strip near the property. The purpose of the accident flight was for the pilot to transport two family members from the ranch back to their home in Wyoming. The pilot stated that he had intended to first land in Driggs to obtain more fuel before continuing to Gillette, Wyoming. The pilot stated that after a normal preflight and engine run-up, he taxied for a departure to the east (totaling a 7 to 8 minutes of engine operating time). After the airplane departed and reached about 75 feet above ground level (agl), the engine rpm smoothly deteriorated to a total loss of power. The pilot relieved the control column back pressure and configured the airplane in a nose-low pitch attitude in an attempt to avoid stalling and to make an off-airstrip landing. The pilot could not recall his next actions but thought he may have unintentionally turned the fuel selector to the OFF position after the loss of power thinking he was switching to the other (fuller) wing tank. The airplane collided with the thick brush off the end of the runway and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot estimated that there were about 30 gallons of fuel in each tank. He did not know the reason for the loss of engine power but opined that he possibly leaned the engine too aggressively for the density altitude. Investigators performed a postaccident examination on the engine and airframe. Control continuity was established from the cockpit's engine controls to the engine. The fuel selector was in the OFF position. The Continental Motors IO-550-F20BR engine, installed under a supplemental type certificate (STC) in July 2010, was intact and remained secure to the airframe. A test run of the engine was performed at the recovery facility. A fuel source was attached to the right inlet fuel line prior to entering the fuel selector. The engine was successfully started and run for over 5 minutes at various power settings from idle to about 1,500 to 1,600 rpm. A magneto check was conducted on the left and right magnetos with a minimal rpm drop on each magneto noted. The engine was shut down using the mixture control lever. During the engine run, when the auxiliary fuel pump was turned on HIGH, the engine ran rough and began to lose rpm until the mixture was leaned. The postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a malfunction or failure with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131DV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N131DV-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N P2060131, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna P206 - Registry model: [Cessna P206](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-p206) (registry code 2073304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: P2060131 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3030 - Engines: Continental IO-550-F20B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2019, 16 hours before - Departed: ID74, Cascade, ID - Destination: DIJ, Driggs, ID - Airport: ID74, Sulphur Creek Ranch, runway 10, 3,300 × 40 ft, gravel - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review September 27, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,560 total, 35 in this make and model, 10,442 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KLLJ ## 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 20190714015319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190714015319A), Jul 14, 2019: Cessna P206, Cascade, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot stated the following during phone interview with iic; Pilot was taking off to the east on runway 10. During takeoff climb out at approximately 75 feet… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99862. 9.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 8.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147539&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2001%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Records of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12146175&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2003%20-%20Records%20of%20Conversations-Rel.pdf - Examination notes (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12147347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2002%20-%20Examination%20Notes-Rel.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.