Cessna T206H accident near Bryant, Arkansas, June 11, 2026
On June 11, 2026 at about 5:27 pm local time, a 2001 Cessna T206H, registered N72RK, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Bryant, Arkansas. It was an aerial observation 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2026 · about 5:27 pm local time
- Place
- Bryant, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H, built 2001 · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N72RK · registry record · serial T20608315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 10, 2026, about 1223 central daylight time, a Cessna T206H airplane, N72RK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bryant, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 aerial surveying flight. The pilot reported that while in cruise flight and approaching his destination airport, he switched the fuel selector from “Both” to “Right” because the right tank contained more fuel. Shortly after switching tanks, the engine began to lose power. The pilot switched back to “Both”, but the airplane continued to lose power, and he was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck trees at the end of the field resulting in substantial damage to the left wing.
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 (partial) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 2026; 378 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Aerial Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: ASG Springdale AR at 1:07 pm
- Destination: SUZ Benton AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from LIT, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLIT 101553Z 24010KT 10SM SCT035 31/22 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP145 T03060222 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN26LA223.