Cessna P206D accident near Eagle Lake, Texas, February 28, 1988
On February 28, 1988 at about 8:12 pm local time, a Cessna P206D, registered N8721Z, was destroyed in an accident near Eagle Lake, Texas (Eagle Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- February 28, 1988 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Lake, Texas · Eagle Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206D · all P206Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8721Z · no longer on the register · serial P206-0521
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INFLIGHT FIRE ERUPTED FOLLOWING THE SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. A METALLURGIST DETERMINED THAT STUDS FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BURN AFTER THE EMERGENCY LANDING AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE ACFT HAD AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WITHIN THE PAST 30 DAYS AND HAD FLOWN 20 HRS SINCE. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OVERHAULED 150 HOURS PREVIOUSLY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,239 hours in all; 1,196 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1,239 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 7XS0 Friendswood TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: T91 Luling TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35, 3,430 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.