Cessna U206 accident near Denton, North Carolina, January 23, 2021
On January 23, 2021 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna U206, registered CGWAS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Denton, North Carolina. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. commercial rules. 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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 2021 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206 G, built 1977 · all U206s on the register
- Registration
- CGWAS · no longer on the register · serial U20603581
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 2 hours into the aerial observation flight at 250 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot maneuvered for a forced landing, during which, the airplane bounced, and the nose gear fractured and bent under the fuselage, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system and a test run of the engine revealed no anomalies. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 985 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 860 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 12, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,002.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Questor Aviation LTD.
The flight
- Departed from: 43A Star NC at 6:00 pm
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 5°F (-15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KHBI, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHBI 231955Z AUTO 02007KT 10SM CLR 08/M15 A3021 RMK AO2 T00811148
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on December 8, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation-pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation-copilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Post-accident Engine Run Graph | picture | View Download |
| 5 | Post-accident Engine Run Data | data file | Download |
| 6 | Recorded Engine Data - Last Flight Graph | picture | View Download |
| 7 | Recorded Engine Data - Last Flight Data | data file | Download |
| 8 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control and Wreckage Release Forms | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.