Cessna U206G accident near Stow, Massachusetts, April 24, 2011
On April 24, 2011 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N304EB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Stow, Massachusetts (Minute Man Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and his failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2011 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stow, Massachusetts · Minute Man Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N304EB · no longer on the register · serial U20605089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was approaching runway 3 in a slip with the flaps fully extended. During the flare, the airplane dropped suddenly, bounced, and became airborne again. The pilot stated that a quartering wind gust pushed the airplane to the left of the runway. He raised the flaps and added power in an attempt to go-around; but did not have enough area to clear trees located past the end of the runway. The pilot decreased the power, the airplane settled onto the runway, and then overran the runway into a swamp. The nose wheel plowed into the dirt and the airplane came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. Wind at the accident airport, recorded one hour prior to the accident was from 270 degrees at 10 knots, with gusts to 18 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,525 hours in all; 392 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,425 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,768 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 2011; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Associated Pilots INC
The flight
- Departed from: BED Bedford MA at 2:45 pm
- Destination: BED Bedford MA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 03, 2,770 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from 6B6
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.