Cessna TU206-F accident near Reno, Nevada, April 4, 1987
On April 4, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Cessna TU206-F, registered N71068, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 4, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206-F · all TU206-Fs on the register
- Registration
- N71068 · registry record · serial U20602119
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON BASE LEG A LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE STUDENT PILOT SELECTED RIGHT FUEL TANK AND APPLIED THE FUEL BOOST PUMP. A RESTART WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE SELECTED A ROAD TO LAND ON BECAUSE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE GEAR STRUCK A BERM WHICH SHEARED THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN NOSED OVER INVERTED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES. NO USABLE FUEL REMAINED IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN SATISFACTORILY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,083 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 310 in the last 90 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,193 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 11, 1986; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEG Spokane WA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: RNO Reno NV
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 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.