Cessna 205 accident near Red Creek, Arizona, October 24, 2019
On October 24, 2019 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1963 Cessna 205, registered N8326Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Red Creek, Arizona (Red Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 properly configure the flaps for an aborted landing, which resulted in degraded climb performance and impact with vegetation at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2019 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Red Creek, Arizona · Red Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205 A, built 1963
- Registration
- N8326Z · no longer on the register · serial 205-0326
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing in crosswind conditions at a 1,200-ft-long remote desert airstrip and performed a go-around after approaching the runway too high. The second approach was stabilized, and, after touching down, he applied the brakes; however, the airplane became airborne again. He applied full engine throttle and continued to fly the airplane in ground effect until reaching the end of the runway. He then pulled back on the control yoke to initiate a climb, but the airplane was unable to climb above the rising terrain and impacted vegetation about 500 ft beyond the runway threshold. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wing flaps were found extended to 40° following the accident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot’s failure to reduce the flap extension upon initiating the aborted landing, which resulted in degraded climb performance and impact with vegetation at the end of the runway.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 472 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 436 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 13, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,420.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2019; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550 (piston); 550 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAN Payson AZ at 10:45 pm
- Destination: Red Creek AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,200 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point -4°F (-20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from KPAN, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPAN 242315Z AUTO 03011G18KT 10SM CLR 14/M20 A3024 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 15, 2022. 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 | Red Creek Airstrip Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Owner's Manual Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Site Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.