Cessna 206 accident near South St. Paul, Minnesota, October 4, 1990
On October 4, 1990 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N35889, was substantially damaged in an accident near South St. Paul, Minnesota (Fleming Field). It was a positioning 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 INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRAG PARACHUTE. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION, HABIT INTERFERENCE, AND THE REDUCED AIRCRAFT CONTROLLABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1990 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- South St. Paul, Minnesota · Fleming Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N35889 · registry record · serial U20302783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TURNING CROSSWIND AT AN ALTITUDE OF 400 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, HE NOTED A CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE, AND THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO SINK RAPIDLY. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED THAT THE SPIN PARACHUTE HAD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON THE PARACHUTE, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE HE FOLLOWED PROCEDURES FOR A DIFFERENT DESIGN PARACHUTE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS LOSING ALTITUDE RAPIDLY, SO RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO JETTISON AGAIN, HE CONCENTRATED ON MAKING A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SAFETY PIN HAD WORKED LOOSE, ALLOWING THE PARACHUTE TO DEPLOY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,749 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 5,582 as pilot in command; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: NONE Inver Grove Hgt MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.