Cessna TU206G accident near Flagstaff, Arizona, February 7, 1986
On February 7, 1986 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N5340X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Flagstaff, Arizona (Pulliam airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 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
- February 7, 1986 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Flagstaff, Arizona · Pulliam · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N5340X · registry record · serial 820605658
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE RETURNING FROM GRAND CANYON, AZ, 14 CFR 135 SIGHTSEEING FLT TO SCOTTSDALE, AZ, THE PLT REPORTED THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS; ALL OTHER INSTRUMENT INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. THE PLT ENRICHED THE MIXTURE AND CHANGED FUEL TANKS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE PLT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO PULLIAM ARPT (FLG), FLAGSTAFF, AZ. AFTER TURNING THE ACFT TOWARDS FLG SMOKE BEGAN TO ENTER THE CABIN AREA FROM BENEATH THE INST PANEL. AFTER SECURING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER THE SMOKE DIMINISHED MOMENTARAILY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE MORE POWER AND THE CABIN BEGAN TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN OPEN FLD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK 3 FENCE LINES AND A DIRT EMBANKMENT. EXAM OF THE ENGINE DSCLSD THE NO. 1 CYLINDER AFT ATTACH EXH STUDS HAD SHEARED OFF AND THE FWD STUDS ATTACH NUTS WERE LOOSE.
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: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,035 as pilot in command; 35 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Superstition Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: SDS Scottsdale AZ at 9:10 pm
- Destination: None
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from FLG, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.