Cessna TU206 N756TH

Summary

On 18 April 2020 at about 17:41 local time, a Cessna TU206 registered N756TH was involved in an accident near Auburn, California, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 April 2020 at 17:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Auburn, California, United States

Nearest airport

Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN)

Coordinates

38.9547, -121.0817

Aircraft

Cessna TU206

Registration

N756TH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lincoln Regional Airport

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA123

1 person died.

The total loss of engine power after takeoff due to water contamination of the fuel.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of about 200 to 300 ft above the ground, the airplane’s engine lost power. The pilot-rated passenger took over the flight controls and performed an emergency landing to a field near the departure airport. During the landing, the airplane impacted terrain and a post-crash fire ensued. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel manifold valve cavity and corrosion type debris on the internal screen. Witness statements revealed several people associated with the pilot knew water had been accumulating in the fuel tanks due to leaky fuel tank caps, one of which was another pilot who flew the airplane twice in the weeks before the accident. The accident pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection; however, it is unknown whether he checked the fuel tanks for contamination as the pilot-rated passenger did not observe him during the preflight. Autopsy and toxicology reports revealed the pilot had severe stenosis of his aorta and three coronary arteries and that he was taking hydroxychloroquine, a medication to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Both the cardiovascular disease and medication use placed him at an increased risk for a sudden cardiac event. However, there was no evidence to suggest that occurred and based on the circumstances of this accident, the pilot’s cardiovascular condition and the effects from his use of hydroxychloroquine were not factors in the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.