Cessna TU206 accident near Ninnekah, Oklahoma, March 14, 2010
On March 14, 2010, a Cessna TU206, registered N4974F, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Ninnekah, Oklahoma (Neil'S Sky Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, resulting from the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2010
- Place
- Ninnekah, Oklahoma · Neil'S Sky Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206 B · all TU206s on the register
- Registration
- N4974F · no longer on the register · serial U206-0674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure and on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the engine lost power. The pilot tried to make a forced landing on the runway, but the airplane collided with terrain short of the runway. During the impact the airplane struck a berm and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, vertical fin, rudder, and both wings. According to the passengers, the purpose of the flight was to obtain fuel from another airport, and, during takeoff, the fuel gauges appeared to indicate empty. The pilot did not perform a preflight inspection; he told the passengers that he had enough fuel for the 5-minute flight. A postaccident examination of the engine and related systems revealed no preimpact anomalies.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Cabin safety event during prior to flight
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Cabin safety event during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,103 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2010; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO520 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O14 Ninnekah OK
- Destination: CHK Chickasha OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.