Cessna U206F accident near Holoyoke, Massachusetts, September 11, 1986
On September 11, 1986 at about 6:06 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N8316Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Holoyoke, Massachusetts (Barnes airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- September 11, 1986 · about 6:06 pm local time
- Place
- Holoyoke, Massachusetts · Barnes
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8316Q · no longer on the register · serial 03177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE AT 6000 FT, THE ACFT LOST POWER. THE PLT DESCENDED THROUGH A SCATTERED LAYER OF CLOUDS AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRASS COVERED FIELD 1 1/2 MILES NORTH OF BARNES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, SHEARING OFF THE NOSE GEAR AND COMING TO REST INVERTED. WHEN IT BECAME OBVIOUS TO THE PLT THAT HE WOULD NOT MAKE IT TO THE AIRPORT, HE CHANGED HIS LANDING AREA AT A LOW ALTITUDE AND LACKED SUFFICENT AIRSPEED TO COMPLETE THE LANDING FLARE. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE SHOWED A FAILED NO. 2 CONNECTING ROD BEARING, BOLTS, AND CONNECTING ROD. THE NO. 3 CONNECTING ROD OIL PORT WAS CLOGGED WITH A SEALANT SIMILAR TO THAT USED IN THE CHANGE OF THE OIL COOLER. EXCESS SEALANT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEADED ON THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE OIL COOLER.
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: 843 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1986; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F-9 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AFN Jaffrey MA
- Destination: 22N Lehighton PA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N8316Q 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.