Cessna U206G accident near Freemont, Michigan, July 20, 2001
On July 20, 2001 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N756DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freemont, Michigan. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The broken throttle cable during cruise flight and the pilot's inadequate flare during the forced landing attempt. Factors relating to this accident were the low airspeed during the forced landing attempt and the short, corn stubble field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2001 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Freemont, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N756DM · registry record · serial U206G04008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and an observer were performing fire patrol near Freemont, Michigan. They were proceeding east at approximately 2,500 feet mean sea level when the pilot noticed the manifold pressure had dropped to approximately 30 inches of Mercury (Hg). The pilot said he moved the throttle in and out several times but the power did not change. The pilot executed a 180-degree turn toward the Freemont Airport. On completion of the turn, the pilot noticed the manifold pressure had dropped to 15 inches Hg. The pilot looked for a place to land. He said there was nothing in front of them but trees. The pilot then noticed a farm field beneath and to the left of him. He said he decided to put the airplane down in the field. The pilot said he left the wheels and the flaps up because he was "low, slow, and short". He said the farm field was a short one. The pilot said he tried to flare. They hit the ground hard. The pilot said he did not recall the airplane going over its nose and coming to rest on its back. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed the throttle cable broken at the linkage to the throttle box lever arm. No other anomalies were found with the airplane.
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
- Flight time: 2,902 hours in all; 804 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 62 in the last 30 days; 2,680 as pilot in command; 1,338 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,116 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 17, 2001; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-550-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAD Cadillac MI at 6:00 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from MKG, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N756DM 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 CHI01LA225.