Cessna TU206B accident near Ellsworth, Wisconsin, June 5, 1988
On June 5, 1988 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna TU206B, registered N4757F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ellsworth, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 5, 1988 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ellsworth, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206B · all TU206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4757F · registry record · serial P206 0357
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE WHICH HE BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT FUEL TANK CONTAINED 23 GALLONS OF FUEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH BOTH FUEL GUAGES READ EMPTY. AFTERWARD THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MAY HAVE LET AIR IN THE FUEL LINES WHEN HE ROCKED THE WINGS IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE FUEL GUAGES TO INDICATE SOME FUEL QUANTITY, RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION INDUCED ENGINE FAILURE. NO PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE FUEL QUANTITY WAS MADE.
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
- Flight time: 402 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,493 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1987; 107 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Elmwood WI at 6:20 pm
- Destination: RGK Red Wing MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from EAU, 34 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.