Cessna TU206F accident near Seneca, Oregon, August 29, 2010
On August 29, 2010 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Cessna TU206F, registered N1406Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Seneca, Oregon (Inshallah International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after takeoff, resulting in a collision with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2010 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca, Oregon · Inshallah International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206F · all TU206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N1406Q · no longer on the register · serial U20602897
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that all airplane systems were operating normally during his preflight inspection and attempted takeoff. The pilot stated that, because of the rocky runway condition, he made a combination soft- and short-field takeoff with the wing flaps extended to the 20-degree position. The pilot reported that the engine produced full power during the takeoff roll and that initially the airplane rolled straight down the runway's centerline. He also reported that it was his standard procedure to lift the airplane off the ground upon accelerating to 55 mph. Thereafter, he relaxes the back pressure on the yoke to accelerate to 90 mph, and then he begins climbing. The pilot reported that, during the accident flight, he immediately felt the nose raise and the airplane started tracking left toward the left side of the runway. Although he attempted to maintain directional control, the airplane veered left, and a wing broke upon impacting a juniper tree and terrain.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 391 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 269 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 16, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor TSIO-520 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7OR8 Seneca OR at 3:59 pm
- Destination: HIO Portland OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.