Cessna TU206G accident near Napa, California, May 28, 2007
On May 28, 2007 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N7395C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Napa, California (Napa County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the number 5 connecting rod due to oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2007 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Napa, California · Napa County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N7395C · no longer on the register · serial 20603919
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, a loud noise was heard in the cockpit followed by severe engine vibrations. The pilot knew he was not going to be able to make it back to the airport and made a forced landing in an open salt marsh 3.5 miles southwest of the closest airport. During the landing rollout, the landing gear dug into the soft ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Visual inspection of the airframe revealed no traces of oil on the belly. During the visual inspection of the engine, the turbocharger was found oil soaked, and the number 5 cylinder contained a circular crack around the head with a red discoloration of the top portions of the cylinder fins. The engine was disassembled and investigators noted that the number 5 connecting rod had separated at the crankshaft rod journal. A high pressure air source was utilized to check for blockage of the oil galleys and passages. Investigators noted that the number 5 crankshaft rod journal oil port was blocked with smeared metal; there were no additional blockages found. About 2 to 3 quarts of oil were drained from the oil sump, along with portions of the number 5 connecting rod, pieces of piston and piston rings, and the intake and exhaust lifters for the number 5 cylinder.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,750 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 2:10 pm
- Destination: 0Q5 Shelter Cove CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from APC, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.