Cessna TU206G N4784U

Summary

On 9 July 1990 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna TU206G registered N4784U was involved in an accident near Sheridan, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 July 1990 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sheridan, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Sheridan (4452)

Coordinates

45.1001, -123.4199

Aircraft

Cessna TU206G

Registration

N4784U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lewiston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA90LA141

Nobody was injured.

INADVERTENT ENGAGEMENT OF THE AUTOPILOT DURING THE FLARE FOR LANDING.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

AT THE END OF A FLIGHT, WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT. THE DOWNWIND, BASE AND FINAL LEGS OF THE PATTERN WERE NORMAL, UNTIL WHILE ON SHORT FINAL, THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY NOSED UP AND BANKED RIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION, HOWEVER, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND LANDED AT AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PILOT FELT THAT THE AUTOPILOT SELF ENGAGED ITSELF. TESTING OF THE AUTOPILOT DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS TO INDICATE A SELF ENGAGEMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LOCATION OF THE AUTOPILOT IN THE AIRPLANE WAS TWO INCHES LOWER THAN THE STC RECOMMENDED AND THAT THE ENGAGE BUTTON IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE FLAP HANDLE AND ENGINE CONTROLS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.