Cessna U206G accident near Yuma, AZ
On May 6, 2010, a Cessna U206G (airplane) was involved in an accident near Yuma, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 6, 2010
- Place
- Yuma, AZ
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.653°N, 114.716°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100506X10429
Official records · WPR10FA228
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 6, 2010, at 0546 mountain standard time, a Cessna U206G, N756WN, collided with terrain 6 miles west of the Yuma International Airport, Yuma, Arizona. The airplane was operated by STP Aviation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The commercial pilot was killed, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Yuma airport about 0537. A witness, who lives in a house across from the cotton field where the accident occurred, stated that he was picking squash when he looked up and saw the airplane descend into the ground, which was followed by an explosion and fire. He heard the engine running, but thought that it was not running at full power. The operator stated that the airplane was equipped to release sterile pink bollworm moths as part of a program run by the State of Arizona. The plane normally flies at 500 feet above ground level (agl) when releasing the moths. The operation is done early in the morning, before the heat of the day, so the insects can find protection from the sun before it gets too hot. The pilot’s assignment on the day of the accident was to release insects over all the designated fields in the Yuma area. The pilot was the sole employee doing this in Yuma and had been there since April. He was very familiar with the area and the fields he worked. A typical flight would last about 2.5 hours. The operator provided flight track data for flights the pilot conducted on May 3, 4, and 5, which departed
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of situational awareness and failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was glare from the rising sun.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona · Cessna aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
