Cessna TU206F accident near Schafers Meadows, Montana, June 23, 2015
On June 23, 2015 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1976 Cessna TU206F, registered N8424Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Schafers Meadows, Montana (Schafer Usfs Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll in variable and gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2015 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Schafers Meadows, Montana · Schafer Usfs Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206F, built 1976 · all TU206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8424Q · no longer on the register · serial U20603284
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was transporting two passengers to a river for a float trip. The pilot reported that, during the approach, the airport's windsock indicated variable wind from the west, with the wind shifting directions, and that gusts filled the wind sock. During the final approach, the airplane experienced an extreme downdraft and touched down about midfield. The airplane began rolling down the runway, and the wind shifted. The airplane then lifted off the runway with a left yaw. The airplane settled back onto the runway, and the pilot attempted to stop the airplane; however, it exited the end of the runway and came to rest in trees. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A weather study revealed that, about the time of the accident, wind was about 10 knots gusting up to 20 knots and that the wind direction was shifting. The cumulus clouds around the mountains and accident site likely increased the effects of the gusting wind conditions. The variable and gusting wind conditions likely contributed to the pilot's inability to maintain directional control 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Variable wind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 3,900 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 11, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,682 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 12, 2014; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors TSO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Red Eagle Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: S27 Kalispell MT at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 8U2 Schafers Meadows MT
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from GPI, 43 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.