Cessna U206F accident near Valentine, Nebraska, November 2, 1992
On November 2, 1992 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N206RB, was destroyed in an accident near Valentine, Nebraska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO AN AREA OF LOW CEILINGS, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE SUFFICIENT FOR TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, THE LOW CEILING AND THE DARK NIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1992 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Valentine, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N206RB · registry record · serial U20602649
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED RISING TERRAIN 31 MI SOUTH OF THE DESTINATION. A WITNESS IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT BETWEEN 100-300 FT AGL JUST BELOW THE CLOUDS WITH AN ESTIMATED GROUND VISIBILITY AT ABOUT 1 MI. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS AND WAS AWARE OF LOW CEILINGS. HIS REPLY TO A 500-FT OVERCAST WAS '...FIVE HUNDRED UP THERE DOESN'T BOTHER ME BECAUSE AH, I'M, I'M REAL FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA.'
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,592 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNK Lincoln NE at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded at 1,100 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.