Cessna P206C accident near Dubois, Idaho, May 21, 1998
On May 21, 1998 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Cessna P206C, registered N8669Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dubois, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Attempted VFR flight into IMC and a loss of aircraft control. An inadequate weather evaluation and drug impairment were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1998 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Dubois, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206C · all P206Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8669Z · no longer on the register · serial P206-0469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to departure, the pilot had called the Flight Service Station for a standard weather briefing. During the briefing, the specialist reported that VFR flight was not recommended due to low ceilings, mountain obscuration and icing conditions along the proposed route of flight. After the weather briefing, the pilot was overheard talking with his passengers, and a decision was made to 'go and see how it was.' Witnesses traveling along a highway that paralleled the accident site, reported that the airplane was observed descending through the clouds in a nose down attitude and steep left bank. The weather at the accident site was reported as a low ceiling at approximately 200 feet AGL. The tops of the surrounding hills were obscured, and rain was falling. Further south, the direction in which the aircraft was traveling, the ceiling was lower and described as 'heavy fog.' During the on-site investigation, the wreckage distribution path was measured for 527 feet. Ground signatures indicated that the airplane touched down on the left main landing gear first, skipped about 10 feet, then all three landing gear touched down. Immediately following the landing gear signatures, a large crater was noted. After the impact crater, wreckage was scattered throughout the path leading up to the main wreckage. Post crash inspection determined that there was no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. Toxicological samples detected positive for sedating over-the-counter antihistamines, and metabolites commonly resulting from the ingestion of multi-symptom over-the-counter cough and cold medications in the pilot.
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: 2,185 hours in all; 1,012 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,830 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1997; 83 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLN Dillon MT at 5:30 pm
- Destination: LGU Logan UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DLN, 46 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N8669Z 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.