Cessna TU206G accident near Palo Alto, California, July 9, 1988
On July 9, 1988 at about 7:08 pm local time, a Cessna TU206G, registered N6106U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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, 1988 · about 7:08 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206G · all TU206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N6106U · registry record · serial U20605323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. EN ROUTE TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON A ROAD WHERE DURING THE LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TELEPHONE WIRES AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TERRAIN. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNOR IDLER GEAR STUD THAT HOLDS THE IDLER GEAR IN PLACE WAS MISSING. THE GEAR WAS FLOATING FREELY IN A SMALL CAVITY AND WEARING A HOLE THROUGH THE HOUSING ON THE PROPELLER GOVERNOR. METAL WAS FOUND IN THE OIL PAN AND IN THE OIL FILTER. THE ENGINE OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED 3 OPERATING HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,216 hours in all; 2,885 in this make and model; 92 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 6,057 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,847 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,616 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSI0-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Spokane Airways INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.
Other NTSB records under N6106U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.