Cessna TU-206G accident near Lansing, Michigan, October 15, 1987
On October 15, 1987, a Cessna TU-206G, registered N9359Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lansing, Michigan (Lansing airport). It was a personal 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).
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
- October 15, 1987
- Place
- Lansing, Michigan · Lansing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU-206G · all TU-206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N9359Z · no longer on the register · serial U20606425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT NOTED STRONG PRESSURE ON THE RIGHT RUDDER. HE TRIMMED OUT THE RUDDER PRESSURE AND CONTINUED TO FLY IN THE LOCAL AREA. APPROACH FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN WERE NORMAL. WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT, TIPPED TO THE RIGHT, AND DRAGGED THE RIGHT WING TIP RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. THE BOLT (AN3H3A) THAT HOLDS THE COLLAR (PN1243617-1) TO THE STRUT WAS FOUND BROKEN ALLOWING THE COLLAR TO BECOME LOOSE PREVENTING THE NOSEWHEEL FROM CENTERING WHEN AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. THE COCKED NOSEWHEEL RESULTED IN THE UNUSUAL RUDDER PRESSURE. EXAM OF THE FRACTURED SURFACE OF THE BOLT SHOWED THAT OXIDATION HAD REMOVED THE FRACTURE PATTERN. THE CAUSE OF THE BOLT FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 318 hours in all; 234 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 1987; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAN Lansing MI at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 7,250 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.