Cessna TU206G accident near Lovelock, Nevada, July 9, 1983
On July 9, 1983 at about 8:58 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N4590U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lovelock, Nevada (Derby Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1983 · about 8:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lovelock, Nevada · Derby Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4590U · registry record · serial U20604998
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSS COUNTRY A CHANGE OF COURSE AROUND SOME ADVERSE WEATHER PUT THE ACFT IN THE VICINITY OF LOVELOCK, NV. SINCE FUEL WAS MARGINAL FOR COMPLETION OF THE FLT THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND AT LOVELOCK FOR FUEL. AS THE FLT NEARED LOVELOCK THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTACT THE FSS FOR WIND INFORMATION BUT DID CONTACT ANOTHER ACFT DEPARTING THE ARPT WHICH GAVE WINDS AS STRAIGHT DOWN RWY O1. THE WIND SOCK ALSO DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY AND NOSED DOWN. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT NOTICED THE WIND SOCK OSCILLATE TO A 90 DEG CROSSWIND. ACCORDING TO CESSNA, THE FACTORY DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND COMPONENT OF THIS ACFT IS 20 KTS FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING. THE FSS AT LOVELOCK WAS CLOSED.
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: 1,200 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 17, 1982; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Progressive Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: RHV San Jose CA at 6:20 pm
- Destination: JAC Jackson Hole WY
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 1, 5,530 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.