What happened
On December 11, 2025, at approximately 1340 CST, a Cessna TU206F, registration N917WC, was involved in an accident near Pell City, Alabama. The aircraft was being operated by BARR AIR PATROL LLC as part of a Part 91 aerial observation flight.
The pilot departed with 107 gallons of fuel for a planned four-hour mission. Approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted fluctuations in the fuel pressure and fuel quantity gauges. This was immediately followed by a total loss of engine power. After notifying air traffic control of the emergency, the pilot executed an emergency landing in a field.
The accident resulted in no fatalities, though the single passenger sustained 1 minor injury. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An inspection of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the nose landing gear collapsed and the empennage partially separated during the landing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The wreckage was recovered and kept for further examination.