Textron Aviation INC T206H accident near Wichita, Kansas, April 3, 2026
On April 3, 2026 at about 4:05 pm local time, a 2016 Textron Aviation INC T206H, registered N411CV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wichita, Kansas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew’s failure to ensure that the rear cargo door was properly latched before flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 2026 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Textron Aviation INC T206H, built 2016
- Registration
- N411CV · registry record · serial T20609251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that while in flight, he heard a loud noise and the noise inside the cabin increased. He turned around and realized that the aft (cargo) door had opened. The airplane landed without further incident. He noted that the Cessna 206 baggage door has a safety switch on the forward baggage door latch that prevents use of flaps when the door latch is not engaged and that the flaps were operational during the flight. He noted that the baggage door had been opened at least 2 times during the preflight inspection of the airplane. The pilot receiving instruction stated that during flight he heard a loud bang and a rush of air. He turned and saw that the rear half of the cargo door had opened in flight. They returned to the airport where an uneventful no-flap landing was made. He said that both cargo door handles were in the latched position before the flight. The operator of the airplane provided a video showing that it is possible to move the aft cargo door latch handle into the latched position without the door mounted lower latch hook properly engaging the fuselage mounted latch plate. Additionally, there were scrape marks on the latch plate and door sill that were consistent with the lower latch having not been properly engaged. According to the “Pilot’s Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Flight Manual” for the airplane, the flap interrupt switch that the flight instructor noted is installed in the upper sill of the forward cargo door opening and does not detect if the latch hooks have engaged the latch plates. The preflight checklist for the airplane included the following: “Cargo Doors - CHECK (visually verify upper and lower cargo door latches are securely engaged) (right side only)” The airplane received substantial damage to the aft fuselage when the rear cargo door opened and impacted the fuselage side.
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
- 350330 during loss of engine power
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Flight crew
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, AME, ASE, IAIR, APLN, none
- Flight time: 2,714 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, AME, ASE, IAIR, APLN, none
- Flight time: 1,686 hours in all; 199 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,518 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,137 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, February 3, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 1,137 hours total
- Operator: Textron Aviation INC
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 26 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 72°C, dew point 64°C
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KICT
Weather report (METAR): METAR KICT 031553Z 18026G34KT 10SM BKN019 OVC027 22/18 A2977 RMK AO2 PK WND 18037/1516 SLP071 T02220183=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 CEN26LA163.