Cessna TU206D accident near Garrison, North Dakota, June 1, 1987
On June 1, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna TU206D, registered N72415, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garrison, North Dakota. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 1, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Garrison, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206D · all TU206Ds on the register
- Registration
- N72415 · no longer on the register · serial U2061399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT AND A PHOTOGRAPHER WERE PHOTO-MAPPING AT 3,000 FEET MSL. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT AT CRUISE. THE PLT SELECTED A GRAVEL ROAD FOR THE FORCED LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINTIN A PLOWED FIELD AND ON TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE WHEEL 'DUG IN' AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE CYLINDER HAD A CATASTROPHIC CRACK NEAR THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,290 hours in all; 955 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 2,130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1986; 63 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: BIS Bismarck ND at 2:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.