Cessna 206 accident near Jamul, California, September 21, 1991
On September 21, 1991 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Cessna 206, registered N5123U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jamul, California (Private Strip airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT WET RUNWAY CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jamul, California · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- N5123U · registry record · serial 0123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT IT WAS HIS FIFTH JUMP FLIGHT OF THE DAY. HE STATED, THE RUNWAY HAD JUST BEEN WIDENED BY GRADING, WHICH LEFT HALF OF THE RUNWAY SOFT FROM THE GRADING. IT ALSO CREATED A DIRT BERM OF EXCESS MATERIAL TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. ON PREVIOUS TAKEOFFS HE INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT WHICH HE COUNTERED WITH RUDDER. HE ALSO STATED THAT IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND THE GROUND WAS WET. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH THE DIRT BERM.
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
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:47 pm from SDM, 1 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.