Cessna P206 accident near Thelma, Texas, November 5, 1989
On November 5, 1989 at about 6:10 pm local time, a Cessna P206, registered N2566X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thelma, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO DRAIN ALL THE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM DURING PREFLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1989 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Thelma, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206 · all P206s on the register
- Registration
- N2566X · registry record · serial P206-0066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT SWITCHED FROM THE RIGHT TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE ENGINE QUIT. HIS RESTART ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESFFUL AND HE SET UP A FORCED LANDING APPROACH TO AN OPEN FIELD. ON FINAL, THE ACFT STRUCK POWER LINES AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION REVEALED LARGE QUANTITIES OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE. THE FUEL CAPS WERE OF THE PROPER KIND AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD BEEN TOPPED OFF 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THAT HE SUMPED THE TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACFT HAD FLOWN AT LEAST ONCE AFTER THE LAST REFUELING. THE ACFT HAD BEEN TIED DOWN OUTSIDE AT AN AIRPORT THAT HAD RECEIVED 5 INCHES OF RAIN DURING THE WEEK PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,276 hours in all; 141 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 5,310 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74R San Antonio TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from SSF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.