Cessna 207 accident near Harlingen, Texas, June 6, 2023
On June 6, 2023 at about 5:08 pm local time, a 1969 Cessna 207, registered N91157, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Harlingen, Texas (Valley Intl airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the throttle control arm to the throttle control cable attachment end, which resulted in a failure of the control arm and a loss of engine power in flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2023 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Harlingen, Texas · Valley Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 207, built 1969 · all 207s on the register
- Registration
- N91157 · registry record · serial 20700096
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff on the fourth flight of the day, he leveled the airplane about 500 ft above ground level (agl), and set the engine controls for 2,500 rpm and 25 inHg manifold pressure. Immediately after adjusting the engine controls, the engine speed decreased to idle. The pilot made a forced landing to a field and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the throttle control lever had fractured, and the throttle control was no longer connected. The associated hardware remained attached to the throttle control cable attachment end. The engine and fuel control valve were recently overhauled, reinstalled in the airplane, and had accumulated 86.3 hours. A postaccident metallurgical examination revealed the throttle control lever attachment point exhibited wear and deformation on the surfaces of the areas that would have been in contact with the rod end attachment hardware. The throttle control lever attachment point also exhibited wear and a shallow impression of the splined collar on the inner surface of the attachment point bore, which was significantly worn. The splines on the collar were worn and uneven. The wear and deformation to the throttle control lever attachment point and the wear in the attachment point’s bore resulted in dimensions that no longer provided enough interference with the rod end attachment hardware to secure the connection. The throttle linkage hardware build-up on the accident airplane was different than specified by the airplane service manual and was missing a washer. The difference likely resulted in the hardware becoming loose over time and allowing excessive wear of the splined collar and lever arm, and ultimately the failure of the lever arm attachment point.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel controlling system › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,231 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 136 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 2,129 as pilot in command; 1,212 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2023; 86.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520-F (piston); 4,850 hours total
- Operator: Garza Aircraft INC
The flight
- Runway 17L, 5,949 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from KHRL
Weather report (METAR): KHRL 061652Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 30/23 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP125 T03000228
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N91157 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA231.