On July 28, 1983, a Cessna 206 (registration N920RB) operated by Martin Gonzalez was involved in an aviation accident near Clifton, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during the takeoff attempt on soft terrain after a prior landing and encounter with customs aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft nosed over on soft terrain during a takeoff attempt after the pilot landed and encountered customs officials, resulting in cargo seizure.
What happened
The aircraft collided with soft terrain and nosed over while attempting to take off. According to customs officials, the aircraft was being tracked on radar prior to the incident. The pilot of the accident aircraft had previously landed and saw a customs aircraft after touching down. Following this encounter, the pilot attempted to take off but lost control, causing the nose to dig into the soft ground.
The investigation
Investigative details regarding mechanical examination are not provided in the source text. However, it was noted that the pilot was caught and arrested following the incident. Additionally, 600 lbs of suspect cargo was seized by authorities.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during the takeoff attempt on soft terrain after a prior landing and encounter with customs aircraft.
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