Cessna TU-206-G accident near Root Ranch, Idaho, July 3, 1988
On July 3, 1988 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Cessna TU-206-G, registered N732HH, was destroyed in an accident near Root Ranch, Idaho (Root Ranch Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- July 3, 1988 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Root Ranch, Idaho · Root Ranch Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU-206-G · all TU-206-Gs on the register
- Registration
- N732HH · no longer on the register · serial U20604678
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PRIOR TO REACHING 500 FEET AGL, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK TREES. AFTER STRIKING TREES THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND AND EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. WITNESSES STATED THAT FROM THE TIME OF ROTATION TO THE TIME CONTROL WAS LOST IN-FLIGHT AN EXTREME NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW THE LEFT WING DROP, AS IF THE PILOT HAD MADE AN INTENTIONAL LEFT TURN OR THAT A DEPARTURE STALL HAD OCCURRED. THERE WAS A SEVERE POST-IMPACT FIRE ALONG WITH DESTRUCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S SYSTEMS. THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGING SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AND TORN DOWN WITH NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND. NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE OR LOSS OF CONTROL IN-FLIGHT COULD BE DETERMINED. AIRSTRIP ELEV WAS 5650 FEET, AND DENSITY ALT ABOUT 7000 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT'S WEIGHT WAS BELOW MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND CG WAS WITHIN LIMITS. THIS WAS THE SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR THE PILOT AND PAX.
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
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-M (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: 79U Flying B Ranch ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.