Cessna 205 accident near Bluff, Utah, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990, a Cessna 205, registered N4807U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bluff, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY SELECT AND SURVEY HIS LANDING SITE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990
- Place
- Bluff, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N4807U · no longer on the register · serial 205-0507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED AT WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN UNCHARTED, UNATTENDED DIRT AIRSTRIP. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, THE ACFT STRUCK AN OBSTRUCTION ON THE TAKEOFF SURFACE WHEREUPON THE PLT LOST CONTROL AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA INTO TREES. THE ACFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PLT WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, NEITHER ACFT DEFICIENCIES OR WX WERE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. THE ACFT WRECKAGE AND THE PLT WERE FOUND THE FOLLOWING MORNING BY CIVIL AIR PATROL ACFT SEARCHING DUE TO IMPACT FORCE ACTIVATION OF THE ACCIDENT ACFT ELT.
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: 470 hours in all; 286 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,163 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 1990; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO470-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: U07 Bullfrog UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.