Cessna TP206B accident near Durango, Colorado, October 1, 1988
On October 1, 1988 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Cessna TP206B, registered N4732F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durango, Colorado (Animas Air Park airport). 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
- October 1, 1988 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Durango, Colorado · Animas Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TP206B · all TP206Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4732F · registry record · serial P-206-0332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PLT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS IN HIS ACFT. DURING TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, WHILE MAKING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE PLT REPORTED EXPERIENCING VIBRATIONS FROM BOTH MAIN GEAR AND HIS ACFT DEPARTED THE 5,000 X 50 FT RWY TO THE LEFT. THE PLANE TRAVELED 100 YDS, HIT A ROCK, AND NOSED OVER. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT APPEARED TO LAND HARDER THAN NORMAL. THE PLT SAID HE SUSPECTED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CAME LOOSE AT THE FUSELAGE ATTACHING POINT AND FORCED THE ACFT TO DEPART THE RWY. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION BY AN A & P MECHANIC WITH INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION, REVEALED DAMAGE TYPICAL OF THAT INCURRED DURING A LANDING ACCIDENT.
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: 1,154 hours in all; 720 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,856 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1988
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5COO at 10:00 pm
- Destination: 5COO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.