Cessna P206 accident near Howard, Colorado, June 5, 2000
On June 5, 2000 at about 8:17 pm local time, a Cessna P206, registered N2577X, was destroyed in an accident near Howard, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was a thunderstorm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2000 · about 8:17 pm local time
- Place
- Howard, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206 · all P206s on the register
- Registration
- N2577X · no longer on the register · serial 206-0077
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two witnesses saw the airplane pitch up and enter a steep left turn, then roll over and enter a descending spiral. It reappeared from behind a mountain ridge, entered another tight left run, rolled over, and disappeared behind the mountain again. The witnesses said that although the airplane was in close proximity to 'black thunderstorms clouds' to the north, it was in an area 'free of clouds.' They heard no thunder and saw no lightning. WSR-88D doppler weather radar detected 'weak weather echoes' in the vicinity of the accident site between 1413:52 and 1418:54. These echoes were moving from northwest to southeast with maximum tops near 33,000 feet. Satellite photos showed cloud cover in the area of the accident site and very cold radiative temperatures (high cloud tops). . .about 29,000 feet.' The airplane struck a large rock, head on, at the 8,166-foot level in mountainous terrain. All off the airplane was accounted for. A 15 inch blade stub was all that remained of the propeller assembly. It was twisted, curled, and bore leading edge gouges and chordwise scratches on the cambered surface.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,500 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GUC Gunnison CO at 8:00 pm
- Destination: OEL Oakley KS
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from PUB, 54 miles away
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.