Cessna U206F accident near Mcallen, Texas, March 5, 1986
On March 5, 1986 at about 2:54 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N8502Q, was destroyed in an accident near Mcallen, Texas (Miller International 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
- March 5, 1986 · about 2:54 pm local time
- Place
- Mcallen, Texas · Miller International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8502Q · no longer on the register · serial 420603359
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON 03-05-86 AT 0854 CST A CESSNA U206F, N8502Q, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED ON LANDING ROLLOUT AT MILLER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN MCALLEN, TEXAS. THERE WAS NO FIRE AND THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES WHEN THE ELECTRONICS CARGO FELL UPON HIM AS THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK. PERSONNEL OF MCALLEN CONTROL TOWER REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO PORPOISE ON ROLLOUT. THE NOSE LANDING WHEEL AND FORK ASSEMBLY WERE SHEARED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED OVER ON ITS BACK APPROXIMATELY 2500 FT. FROM THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 13.
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: 288 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 141 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 12, 1985; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 13, 7,103 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from MFE
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.