Cessna U206B accident near Winterset, Iowa, April 1, 2012
On April 1, 2012 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Cessna U206B, registered N3830G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Winterset, Iowa (Winterset Municipal Airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of oil pressure to the No. 4 connecting rod journal and the subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 2012 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Winterset, Iowa · Winterset Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 7 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206B · all U206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3830G · registry record · serial U206-0830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he departed the airport with six parachutists for a jump flight. As the airplane approached 1,000 feet above ground level, he noticed that the airplane wasn’t climbing. He checked the engine gauges and noticed that the engine analyzer was flashing “CHT” and the cylinder head temperature was 454 degrees F. As the pilot pitched the nose down and turned back to the airport, he heard a muffled “thud” sound and saw white smoke pour from the engine. As he prepared for a forced landing, four of the parachutists jumped from the airplane. The pilot then performed a forced landing in a field, coming to a stop near a dirt berm. An examination revealed a hole in the engine crankcase, near the No. 4 cylinder. Various pieces of metal, including part of a “quick oil drain plug” were found in the engine oil sump. The No. 4 connecting rod journal appeared distorted and displayed extensive heat signatures. The crankshaft journals on either side of the No. 4 rod journals did not appear to be distorted or to contain the same heat signatures and were coated with engine oil. The rod and crankshaft bearings were scored. The signatures on the engine were consistent with the loss of lubricant to the No. 4 connecting rod journal. A reason for the loss of engine oil to the journal was not found.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Oil › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,045 hours in all; 177 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 981 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,966 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 2012
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Des Moines Skydivers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 3Y3 Winterset IA
- Destination: 3Y3 Winterset IA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.54 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KDSM, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.