Cessna TU206G accident near Challis, Idaho, June 15, 1990
On June 15, 1990 at about 6:56 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N7582N, was destroyed in an accident near Challis, Idaho (Indian Creek Usfs airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S ENTRY INTO AN EXCESSIVE MANEUVER AFTER TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED TO COMPLETE THE MANEUVER, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL/MUSH INTO TREES. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1990 · about 6:56 pm local time
- Place
- Challis, Idaho · Indian Creek Usfs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N7582N · no longer on the register · serial U20603687
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS STATED THE ACFT ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A STRIP NEAR A RIVER IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. HE SAID THAT WHILE STILL CLIMBING, THE ACFT BEGAN A 180 DEG 'U-TURN' (WING-OVER) & HEADED FOR THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT TREES, CRASHED ON UNEVEN TERRAIN & BURNED. IMPACT OCCURRED ON A HDG THAT WAS NRLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE RWY DRCTN. ELEV OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 4730 FT; THE ARPT ELEV WAS 4701 FT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT WAS FOUND, THOUGH THE ELEVATOR TRIM CABLE WAS FOUND STRETCHED IN A NOSE-UP (TAB DOWN) DRCTN. THE COMPANY HAD SUSPENDED ONE OF THE PLTS FOR PERFORMING A SIMILAR MANEUVER ON 3/5/90, AFTER INADVERTENTLY ENTERING A BOX CANYON AT LOW ALTITUDE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,935 hours in all; 515 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 2,738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1990; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:40 pm
- Destination: NONE Stanley ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Observation at 6:49 pm from U15, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.