Cessna 206D accident near Saint Jo, Texas, May 27, 1989
On May 27, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 206D, registered N72279, was destroyed in an accident near Saint Jo, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD THAT WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Saint Jo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206D · all 206Ds on the register
- Registration
- N72279 · no longer on the register · serial U206-1349
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN AN UNIMPROVED FIELD DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. THEY REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR FOUR AND ONE HALF HOURS UNTIL THE WEATHER CLEARED. THE PILOT SAID HE WALKED THE TERRAIN AND HAD FELT IT WAS SAFE TO MAKE A TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS AIRBORNE. AFTER ABORTING THE TAKEOFF, HE MOVED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT AND KEPT THE NOSEWHEEL OFF THE GROUND AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED, IT RAN THROUGH A SERIES OF RUTS IN THE SURFACE, AND THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED FORWARD TO THE INVERTED POSITION. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.
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: 300 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: BKD Breckenridge TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.