Cessna TU206F accident near Marlin, Texas, April 5, 2022
On April 5, 2022 at about 5:31 pm local time, a Cessna TU206F, registered N858JA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Marlin, Texas (Marlin Municipal Airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2022 · about 5:31 pm local time
- Place
- Marlin, Texas · Marlin Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206F · all TU206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N858JA · registry record · serial U20603437
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated observer departed on a pipeline inspection flight. Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, and GPS data indicated the airplane first appeared immediately south of the departure airport. The airplane tracked north-northwest and climbed to 4,000 ft mean sea level. About 1 1/2 hours into the flight, the airplane turned southwest and began a series of maneuvering turns over the area where the pipeline was located. The airplane continued to maneuver southwest and worked its way to a location 20 miles south of its destination airport. It then turned to the east toward a nearby airport. The pilot contacted approach control and informed them that he was landing at that airport. The airplane overflew the south end of the airport and entered a left downwind traffic pattern for runway 17. The airplane continued to a left base leg and then final. An armory security camera located on the airport recorded the airplane on final approach. The airplane touched down just past the approach end of the runway and bounced back into the air. It touched down a second time in the grass just right of the runway, struck a runway light, veered back on the runway, crossed the runway, and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane then disappeared behind a building. GPS data showed that the airplane became airborne again. The airplane climbed to about 75 ft above ground level, crossed a road that ran parallel to the runway east of the airport, and then entered a rapid decent until track data was lost. The airplane impacted trees and terrain in a near vertical attitude and came to rest on its main landing gear and forward fuselage on a westerly heading, 340 ft due east of the runway. The airplane’s propeller was found in a 1-foot-deep impact crater 33 ft west of the airplane main wreckage and showed signs of power. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during the final approach and landing was not determined with the available information.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Runway excursion during landing
- Loss of control in flight during landing defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 529 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 24, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 320 hours in all; 145.7 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,781 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2022
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TME Houston TX at 3:38 pm
- Destination: Waco TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17, 3,021 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from KACT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
22 documents, released by the NTSB on September 27, 2022. 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.
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.
