Aviation Crash Map

Cessna P206 N220P

9 May 1990 · Liberty, North Carolina, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 9 May 1990 at about 01:37 local time, a Cessna P206 registered N220P, operated by John C. Thomas, was involved in an accident near Liberty, North Carolina, United States. 4 people were on board and one died, 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 01:37
Classification
Accident
Location
Liberty, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates
35.8497, -79.5710
Aircraft
Cessna P206
Registration
N220P
Category
Airplane
Engines
4
Operator
John C. Thomas
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Asheboro → Unknown
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Night/Bright
NTSB number
ATL90FA111

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
4 1 3 0 0

Probable cause

A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO IMPROPER REPAIRS TO, AND INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF, THE INDUCTION AIR BOX. THE NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT RADIOED HE WAS LOSING POWER AND ATTEMPTING A LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT APPROACHED AN OVERPASS, THE PILOT APPEARED TO HAVE PULLED UP TO AVOID POWER LINES, AND THEN COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE LINE. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED ONTO A MEDIAN STRIP. THE INDUCTION AIR BOX DOOR SPRING WAS FOUND TO HAVE WORN COMPLETELY THROUGH THE ATTACH HOLE OF THE AIR BOX DOOR ARM. THE TOTAL SPRING LENGTH WAS 2.50 INCHES; ENGINEERING DRAWING SPECIFIES A SPRING LENGTH OF 3.66 INCHES. ALSO, THE THICKNESS OF THE ARM ITSELF WAS LESS THAN 50% OF THAT SPECIFIED BY THE DRAWING. THE BRACKET THAT THE OTHER END OF THE SPRING ATTACHES TO WAS MISLOCATED ABOUT 0.50 INCH FROM THE DRAWING DIMENSION. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BOX WAS FASTENED TOGETHER MOSTLY BY BLIND FASTENER RIVETS WHICH ARE NOT CALLED FOR ON THE DRAWING. IT WAS ALSO CAULKED WITH A SOFT SEALANT ALSO NOT CALLED FOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Cessna P206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
1 Aug 1989 Cessna P206
N2521X
Punta Abriejos, Mexico
no coordinates
Poptsis, George No injuries -
23 Jan 1991 Cessna P206
N4626F
Cleveland, Ohio, United States - Minor injuries -
5 Nov 1989 Cessna P206
N2566X
Thelma, Texas, United States - Serious injuries -
22 May 1987 Cessna P206
N2520X
Tehachapi, California, United States Pacific Aerographics Fatal 4
1 May 1987 Cessna P206 S/N P206-0009
N2509X
St. Johns, Canada
no coordinates
Anton Boshoff Fatal 6
2 Sep 1986 Cessna P206-B
N4782F
Wht Sulphur Spr, West Virginia, United States Greenbrier Airlines Inc. Fatal 1

All 86 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
29 Sep 1990 Cessna 172N
N1904V
Stokesdale, North Carolina, United States Martely, James No injuries -
16 Sep 1990 Cessna 150J
N41GF
Grantham, North Carolina, United States Grantham Aero Club No injuries -
30 Dec 1990 Cessna 182E
N9383X
Saluda, North Carolina, United States Kaminsky, Russell Fatal 1
11 Aug 1990 Erco 415-C
N2436H
Huntersville, North Carolina, United States - Fatal 2
7 Oct 1990 Mooney M20E
N9315V
Greensboro, North Carolina, United States - No injuries -
14 Oct 1990 Grumman AA-5A
N7103L
Lexington, North Carolina, United States Adkins, David Serious injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States