Cessna P206D accident near Lopez, Washington, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna P206D, registered N8761Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lopez, Washington (Decatur Shores airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A WORN THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lopez, Washington · Decatur Shores · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206D · all P206Ds on the register
- Registration
- N8761Z · registry record · serial P2060561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING TO A NEARBY AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT AND NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER DISPLAYED ELONGATED WEARING WHERE THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER ATTACHES TO THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. THE WEARING ALLOWED THE ENCOMPASSING BRASS TO WEAR THROUGH AND THE LINKAGE TO DISCONNECT FROM THE LEVER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 704 hours in all; 323 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1994; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Center Island WA at 11:28 pm
- Destination: Fall City WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,550 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.