Cessna T206H and Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 accident near Palm Springs, California, May 10, 2021
On May 10, 2021 at about 4:21 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna T206H (N206DT) and Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 (N505SP), were involved in the same accident near Palm Springs, California (Bermuda Dunes airport). 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 Kingair pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
The Kingair pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2021 · about 4:21 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Bermuda Dunes · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna T206H H, built 2006 · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N206DT · registry record · serial T20608662
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Raytheon Aircraft Company B200, built 1996
- Registration
- N505SP · registry record · serial BB-1538
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna T206H final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna reported that, he turned off the taxiway to perform a functional check of his autopilot and electric trim systems. A few seconds later, the pilot of a Kingair was taxiing and observed the Cessna’s tail partially obstructing the taxiway. The Kingair pilot turned sharply to the left to avoid an impact. As the Cessna pilot was checking his systems, he suddenly felt his airplane lurch forward. The Cessna pilot immediately observed the Kingair pass to his rear left and used the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency to inform the Kingair pilot that he had collided with his airplane. The Kingair pilot denied the ground collision and subsequently tookoff. As a result of the collision, the Cessna’s rudder and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The right-wing winglet of the Kingair displayed minor red paint transfer. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna reported that, he turned off the taxiway to perform a functional check of his autopilot and electric trim systems. A few seconds later, the pilot of a Kingair was taxiing and observed the Cessna’s tail partially obstructing the taxiway. The Kingair pilot turned sharply to the left to avoid an impact. As the Cessna pilot was checking his systems, he suddenly felt his airplane lurch forward. The Cessna pilot immediately observed the Kingair pass to his rear left and used the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency to inform the Kingair pilot that he had collided with his airplane. The Kingair pilot denied the ground collision and subsequently tookoff. As a result of the collision, the Cessna’s rudder and vertical stabilizer were substantially damaged. The right-wing winglet of the Kingair displayed minor red paint transfer. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 for the Cessna T206H from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 699.8 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 25.3 in the last 90 days; 10.6 in the last 30 days; 659 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 706.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 2020; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 759 hours total
The flight
- Destination: S21 Sunriver OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10/2, 5,002 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 am from KTRM, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTRM 101552Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM CLR 25/09 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP079 T02500094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Raytheon Aircraft Company B200 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PT6A-42 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PT6A-42 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: N505Sp LLC
The flight
- Destination: CRQ Carlsbad CA
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 20, 2021. 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 - King Air Pilot | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Cessna Pilot | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Bermuda Dunes Airport Incident Report | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N206DT on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna T206 Turbo Stationair 1,061 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,685 aircraft on the register
- N505SP on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Raytheon Aircraft Company 2,138 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A 721 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-42 172 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bermuda Dunes Airport · nearest airport
- Sunriver Airport · bound for
- MC Clellan-Palomar Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,761 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA253.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.