Cessna T206H incident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, September 21, 2015
On September 21, 2015 at about 12:45 pm local time, a 1999 Cessna T206H, registered N7269T, suffered minor damage in an incident during initial climb near Idaho Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls Rgnl airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight fire during initial climb due to the separation of the engine's turbocharger wastegate overboard exhaust tailpipe. Contributing to the accident was the owner's decision to not comply with a service bulletin that addressed the tailpipe separation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2015 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Idaho Falls, Idaho · Idaho Falls Rgnl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H, built 1999 · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N7269T · registry record · serial T20608050
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During initial climb and about 200 ft above ground level, the passenger observed smoke, which then rapidly filled the cabin. The pilot immediately turned the airplane toward the runway and subsequently performed a forced landing. Examination revealed that the airplane experienced an in-flight fire due to the separation of the engine's turbocharger wastegate overboard exhaust tailpipe from the turbocharger housing. The hot gases from the exhaust system subsequently burned through the battery's electrical cable insulation, which resulted in arcing, a short circuit, and fire. The airplane manufacturer had issued a service bulletin (SB) 16 years before the incident, which recommended installing a tailpipe lanyard to prevent the separation of the tailpipe. About 6 months before the incident, the airplane experienced a similar separation of the tailpipe. The damage was less severe, and it was limited to the battery and its electrical cables. After that event, the tailpipe clamp and gaskets were replaced, but the owner did not comply with the SB. No lanyard was found on the airplane, and no record was found indicating that the owner had complied with the SB at any time. However, the airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91; therefore, compliance with the SB was not mandatory. Although complying with the SB was not mandatory for this airplane's operations, the owner should have complied with the SB to ensure the continued safe operation of the airplane.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Malfunction
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Not serviced/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Owner/builder
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,245 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 1,109 as pilot in command; 460 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 21, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,787.5 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 3, 2015; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,617 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 604 hours total
- Operator: Aero-Graphics Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 12:40 pm
- Destination: IDA Idaho Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 9,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KIDA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 2, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Cessna Service Bulletin SB99-71-06 | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.