Cessna P206 accident near Derby, Kansas, March 10, 2001
On March 10, 2001, a Cessna P206, registered N2507X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Derby, Kansas (Cook Airfield INC). It was a skydiving 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The misjudged in-flight planning the pilot had for the forced landing. Factors were the induction air ducting separation, the pilot not coordinating his emergency procedure with airfield traffic, and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2001
- Place
- Derby, Kansas · Cook Airfield INC · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206 · all P206s on the register
- Registration
- N2507X · registry record · serial P206-007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing to a field following an in-flight loss of engine power. Skydivers had been dropped prior to the loss of engine power and the pilot reported no injuries. The pilot stated, "I climbed to 11000 [feet.] Was not getting usual climb rate[.] Before decent found I could not close cowl flaps. Decended to 6000 [feet.] Noticed eratic raise on manifold gage[.] Decided to shut down engine to stop further any possible damage. Flew down to pattern altitude where a plane flew in front of me and carried on across airport. I then carried on my landing, was about to turn base when I noticed the plane had turned 120 [degrees] and was flying toward me[.] I finally got hold of him on the radio and told him I had an engine out. He acknolaged and headed north out of the area. I then realized I was not able to get to runway because of high trees[.] Decided to turn into cleared area but hit tree with right wing[.]" Under mechanical malfunction failure, the pilot stated, "Air intake hose blown off after backfire[.]"
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,980 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,868 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 16, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2000; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Tours Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: K50 Derby KS at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,490 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:56 pm from ICT, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.