Cessna 206 accident near Brooklyn, Iowa, August 16, 2013
On August 16, 2013 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 206, registered N2070K, suffered minor damage in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Brooklyn, Iowa. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper routing of the seatbelt, which resulted in the inadvertent deployment of the reserve parachute, and the open jump door, which allowed the passenger to be pulled from the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2013 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brooklyn, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206, built 1964 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N2070K · registry record · serial 206-0196
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before departure for the positioning flight, the pilot was told that an observer/passenger would be joining him for the flight. The airplane, which was typically used in skydiving operations, had its right cabin door removed, and a fabric roll-up jump door had been installed; it was not closed during the flight. The pilot reported that the passenger sat behind him on the right side of the airplane and that he heard him attach his seatbelt. During the flight, the passenger moved forward in the cabin, which resulted in the passenger's reserve parachute inadvertently deploying and the passenger being pulled through the open jump door. The passenger hit the doorframe, and the parachute became entangled with the empennage, which resulted in a loss of airplane control and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. The parachute eventually separated from the empennage, and the pilot was able to regain control of the airplane and land it without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that the passenger had inadvertently attached his seatbelt to the handle that released the reserve parachute. Therefore, the reserve parachute deployed when the passenger moved. The pilot did not conduct a safety briefing before the flight; however, the improper routing of the seatbelt may not have been identified even if he had conducted a safety briefing. Additionally, if the jump door had been closed, it is likely that the passenger would not have been pulled out of the airplane.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during uncontrolled descent
- Miscellaneous/other during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Equipment/furnishings › Passenger compartment equip › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2013
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Dive Iowa Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 09IA Brooklyn IA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: KGGI Grinnell IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from KGGI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2070K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.