Cessna TU206D accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico, April 25, 1993
On April 25, 1993 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Cessna TU206D, registered N72158, was destroyed in an accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT THAT ORIGINATED FROM A HEAT CHECK CRACK IN THE JOURNAL, ADJACENT TO THE #2 MAIN JOURNAL FORWARD FILLET.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1993 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Culebra, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206D · all TU206Ds on the register
- Registration
- N72158 · no longer on the register · serial U206-1301
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT AT ABOUT 2000 FEET OVER WATER, A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED, FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN ENGINE RESTART WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS AND DITCHED AT THE MOUTH OF A BAY IN OCEAN WATERS. HE WAS FATALLY INJURED, BUT THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED, AND AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE CRACKING. FATIGUE HAD INITIATED AT A HEAT CHECK CRACK IN THE JOURNAL AT A POSITION ABOUT 0.2 INCH AFT OF THE #2 MAIN JOURNAL FORWARD FILLET & PROPAGATED THROUGH THE ADJACENT #4 CHEEK. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF GALLING OF THE #2 MAIN JOURNAL BY CONTACT WITH THE ASSOCIATED BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN HEAT CHECKS.
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: 324 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 1992; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TUPJ Tortola OF at 1:00 pm
- Destination: SIG Isle Grande PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:46 pm from TIST, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.