Cessna 205 accident near Twin Mountain, New Hampshire, September 20, 1986
On September 20, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N27WD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twin Mountain, New Hampshire (Twin Mountain airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 20, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Mountain, New Hampshire · Twin Mountain
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N27WD · registry record · serial 205-0376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A 'BOMB DROP' CONTEST AT AN ORGANIZED 'FLY-IN', THE PILOT WAS MANEUVERING AT LOW AIRSPEED SO HIS PASSENGER COULD DROP A WATER-FILLED BALLOON ON A TARGET WHICH HAD BEEN PLACED ON RUNWAY 27. THE ACFT SUDDENLY BANKED TO THE RIGHT AND PITCHED DOWN STRIKING THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 385 hours in all; 77 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,355 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,750 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.