Cessna T-206 accident near Tonto Basin, Arizona, December 2, 1990
On December 2, 1990 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Cessna T-206, registered N8655Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tonto Basin, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD IN THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1990 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tonto Basin, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T-206 · all T-206s on the register
- Registration
- N8655Z · no longer on the register · serial P-2060455
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FLYING A 9,500 FT MSL THE PILOT, ALSO THE REGISTERED OWNER, OBSERVED AN INCREASE IN OIL TEMPERATURE FOLLOWED BY A DECREASE IN OIL PRESSURE. MOMENTS LATER OIL SMOKE EMANATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE SUN BLINDED THE PILOT WHILE ON APPROACH TO A DIRT STRIP AND WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE DIRT STRIP THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO NEGOTIATE A LANDING ON THE STRIP. THE PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN AN ADJACENT OPEN AREA. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING STRUCK A BARN. ENGINE EXAM DSCLSD THE NO. 3 CONNECTING ROD FAILED AND ITS ASSOCIATED BEARING EXHIBITED EXTREME HIGH TEMP DISTRESS. DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSP THE OIL ANALYSIS SHOWED HIGH CONCERTRATION OF IRON AND STEEL.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1989; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 11:00 pm
- Destination: SOW Show Low AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.