Cessna U206G accident near Angola, Indiana, March 4, 1985
On March 4, 1985 at about 3:30 am local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N6173U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angola, Indiana (Tri-State Stuben County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1985 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Angola, Indiana · Tri-State Stuben County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6173U · no longer on the register · serial U20605364
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE ACFT BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY HOLDING ALT SHORTLY AFTER LEVEL-OFF AT 6000 FT MSL. HE STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENG WAS FLOODING. HE BEGAN A FORCED DESCENT TO THE NEAREST SUITABLE AIRFIELD AND CROSSED OVER THE NDB FOR THAT FIELD AT 3000 FT MSL. DURING A TURN BACK TO THE RWY, THE WINGS AND WINDSCREEN BEGAN TO ICE UP. AT THIS POINT HE BEGAN TO LOSE ALT MORE RAPIDLY. AT ABOUT 20 FT ABOVE THE GROUND, AT 65 KIAS, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT THE HEAVY SNOW HE HAD BEEN FLYING THROUGH MAY HAVE BLOCKED THE ENG INTAKE AIR FILTER, CAUSING THE ENG PWR LOSS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,236 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 1,047 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,587 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 16, 1984; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kokomo Aviation,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 5D8 Marshall MI at 3:10 am
- Destination: OKK Kokomo IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 5
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from FWA, 80 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.