Cessna U206G accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey, April 2, 1996
On April 2, 1996 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N9625R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Old Bridge, New Jersey (Old Bridge 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
fuel contamination, due to improper servicing of the aircraft, which resulted in fuel starvation, loss of engine power, a forced landing, and collision with a tree. The strong surface wind was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1996 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Old Bridge, New Jersey · Old Bridge
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N9625R · no longer on the register · serial U20606908
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The turbine powered Cessna 206 was cruising at 7500 feet, when the engine lost power. The engine was not equipped with an auto ignition system, and the pilot did not attempt to restart the engine. During a forced landing, the airplane arrived over an airport at 2000 feet AGL; however, after turning downwind and then final, the pilot was unable to reach the airport due to strong surface winds. He attempted to reach an open field, and the airplane struck a tree. The airframe fuel filter was found in the bypass configuration with a clogged filter element and with visible contaminants in the fuel. The contaminated fuel was examined and was found to contain a higher than normal gum content. The fuel downstream of the engine filter was clean with no visible contamination. Further investigation revealed the airplane had been purchased for salvage by the operator after it was involved in an accident. Turbine fuel was not available at the airport, where the airplane had been stored. The airplane had been refueled with turbine fuel removed from the wings of other airplanes that were stored at the facility. The contamination was attributed to old fuel. Also, a check of the fuel filter disclosed an inoperative electrical switch, which prevented the fuel filter bypass light from illuminating.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,020 hours in all; 19 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,980 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,707 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1995; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20S (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CRE Myrtle Beach SC at 1:00 pm
- Destination: N44 La Grangeville NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,594 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from EWR, 23 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.
Other NTSB records under N9625R 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.