Cessna T206H accident near Palo Alto, California, January 8, 2006
On January 8, 2006 at about 8:15 am local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N531HP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto Arpt Of Santa Clara airport). It was a public-use flight (state) under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment, which resulted in a collision with multiple objects.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2006 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto Arpt Of Santa Clara · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N531HP · registry record · serial T20608250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with multiple airport objects during the landing flare. While in the traffic pattern for landing the pilot was not able to lower the flaps. During the landing flare, the pilot lost sight of the runway, and allowed the airplane to drift off the runway, where it collided with an airport sign and runway lights. He performed a go-around, and was not able to determine the extent of the damage. He elected to divert to another area airport with longer and wider runways. The pilot made a no flap landing at the alternate airport. Maintenance personnel reported that the right rear passenger door has a door/flap limit switch, so that when the door is ajar or open, the flaps cannot be lowered. The system was functionally tested and found to operate normally. It was determined that the right rear passenger was leaning against the door, and deactivated the door/flap limit switch. No further discrepancies were noted.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,173 hours in all; 572 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 1,103 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,305 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 1, 2004; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJA1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 6:45 am
- Destination: PAO Palo Alto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,443 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 am from PAO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX06CA084.