Cessna TU206C accident near Catalina, Arizona, July 15, 1984
On July 15, 1984 at about 2:45 am local time, a Cessna TU206C, registered N3971G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Catalina, Arizona (Brave Bulls airport). 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 15, 1984 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Catalina, Arizona · Brave Bulls
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206C · all TU206Cs on the register
- Registration
- N3971G · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RAN INTO RUTS WASHED OUT BY RECENT RAINS ON A PRIVATE ARPT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE CIRCLED THE ARPT TO LOOK FOR HAZARDS. HE CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS OK TO LAND. AFTER THE ACCIDENT HE SAID THAT HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED THE ARPT OPERATOR PRIOR TO FLYING THERE TO CHECK ON THE CONDITION OF THE ARPT AND RWY.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,325 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 1,717 as pilot in command; 157 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA
- Destination: 8EO Catalina AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.