Cessna TP206 accident near Kahului, Hawaii, February 13, 2020
On February 13, 2020 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1968 Cessna TP206, registered N8649Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Kahului, Hawaii (Kahului airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane porpoising and a subsequent a loss of directional control, runway excursion, and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2020 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kahului, Hawaii · Kahului · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TP206 C, built 1968 · all TP206s on the register
- Registration
- N8649Z · no longer on the register · serial P206-0449
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, he flared the airplane "too much," and the nose pitched up. Subsequently, the airplane porpoised on the runway, veered left, exited the runway, and nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all; 11.6 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4.6 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,354 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-CM (piston); 440 hours total
- Operator: Nv Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OGG Kahului HI at 10:10 pm
- Destination: OGG Kahului HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02, 6,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from PHOG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 31, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.