Cessna TU206 N3422L

Summary

On 28 August 2020 at about 18:00 local time, a Cessna TU206 registered N3422L was involved in an accident near Tusayan, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 August 2020 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tusayan, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Canyon National Park Apt (KGCN)

Coordinates

35.9361, -112.1314

Aircraft

Cessna TU206

Registration

N3422L

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Skydiving

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Grand Canyon → Grand Canyon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA291

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of contamination in the airplane’s fuel system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while abeam the runway numbers on a left downwind in preparation to land after performing a skydiving drop, the engine lost power and then totally quit. The pilot performed a forced landing to a two-lane highway. While maneuvering to land, the airplane collided with a light pole and came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the airplane.   Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water- and debris-contaminated fuel in the airframe fuel filter bowl and water-contaminated fuel in the fuel manifold and fuel pump. Also, the fuel inlet screen was mostly clogged with what appeared to be dirt and corrosion. The engine most likely lost power due to fuel contamination, as the fuel filter, fuel manifold, and fuel pump all tested positive for water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.