Cessna U206G accident near Pasadena, Texas, December 9, 1991
On December 9, 1991 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N756DE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasadena, Texas (Ellington airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO THE PILOTS' IMPROPER BOOST PUMP PROCEDURE. FACTORS WERE PILOTS' FAILURE TO FOLLOW CHECKLIST, DARK NIGHT, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 9, 1991 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Pasadena, Texas · Ellington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N756DE · no longer on the register · serial U20604001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A NIGHT ILS APPROACH THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PILOT MADE A VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. A VFR MISSED APPROACH WAS MADE DUE TO FOG AT THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT REQUESTED AN IFR CLEARANCE TO A CONTROLLED FIELD AND WAS CLEARED FOR THE ILS APPROACH RUNWAY 17R. AT THE FINAL APPROACH FIX THE PILOT REPORTED ENGINE PROBLEMS AND THEN STATED THAT HE HAD THE ENGINE BACK. HE SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST. THE PILOT STATED TO THE SAFETY BOARD THAT HE SELECTED THE LEFT FUEL TANK AT THE INITIAL POWER LOSS. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO SELECT THE BOOST PUMP, HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT VERIFY THAT THE BOOST PUMP HAD BEEN SELECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS CHECKLIST. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TREES.
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: 4,554 hours in all; 739 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4,464 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,069 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Del Rio TX at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.