Cessna U206A accident near Williams, Arizona, March 14, 1987
On March 14, 1987 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna U206A, registered N8058Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, Arizona (Williams Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- March 14, 1987 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Williams, Arizona · Williams Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206A · all U206As on the register
- Registration
- N8058Z · no longer on the register · serial U206-0458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A CROSSWIND TURN, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS REGISTERING A LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE AND THE ENGINE WAS EXPERIENCING A SMOOTH LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY BOOST PUMP AND VERIFIED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE QUIT ALTOGETHER AND HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN AN OPEN AREA. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE VISUALLY EXAMINED THE TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND REPORTED THAT THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 15 GALLONS AND THE RIGHT TANK WAS EMPTY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. HE REPORTED THAT ONLY SEVEN GALLONS (APPROX 1/4 TANK) WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT TANK AND NO FUEL WAS IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE AIRCRAFT STATES THAT WITH 1/4 TANK OR LESS, UNCOORDINATED FLIGHT IN EXCESS OF ONE MINUTE CAN CAUSE FUEL STARVATION AND ENGINE STOPPAGE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 862 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 813 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,063 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 1987; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P32 at 11:30 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.