Cessna T206F accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, March 31, 1987
On March 31, 1987 at about 6:11 pm local time, a Cessna T206F, registered N9026B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 31, 1987 · about 6:11 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206F · all T206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N9026B · registry record · serial U20601704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT ON SHORT FINAL THE ACFT BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT THE DRIFT HAD NO EFFECT. THE PLT ADDED PWR TO INITIATE A GO AROUND AND HE SAID THAT THE 'AIRSPEED SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 40 AND WE WERE IN A STALL CONDITION' THEN THE ACFT SEEMED TO 'MUSH WITH NO CONTROL UNTIL (IT) CONTACTED THE GROUND.' THE ATCT CONTROLLERS SAID THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 1,500 FT DOWN THE RWY WHEN IT WAS SEEN TO INITIATE A GO-AROUND AND PITCH NOSE UP STEEPLY THEN DESCEND RAPIDLY TO THE GROUND OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. AN FAA INSP WAS FLYING AN ACFT IN THE PATTERN AND NOTED THAT A SLIGHT SHEAR EXISTED BUT ONLY PRODUCED A MINOR SINK RATE. THE PLT'S FLT TIME CONSISTED OF 2,500 HRS IN BALLOONS WITH ABOUT 180 IN AIRPLANES. NO AIRPLANE FLT TIME WAS FLOWN IN THE PREVIOUS 4 YRS PRIOR TO MARCH OF 1987 WHEN HE PURCHASED THE ACFT AND FLEW IT APPROX 6 HRS BFR THE ACCD.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 2,711 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2,609 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1987; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hait UT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: GCN Grand Canyon AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:11 pm from GCN
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.