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Aircraft Sinks After Takeoff, Strikes Rough Terrain; Five Seriously Injured (N1627U)

Dixie, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On August 6, 1982, a Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair (registration N1627U) operated by Kenneth L. Linn was involved in an aviation accident near Dixie, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot in command, deteriorated aircraft climb performance, failure to maintain airspeed, inadvertent stall/mush, and rough/uneven terrain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

After a four-hour wait for cooler temperatures, a pilot took off with four passengers. At about 50 feet over a river, the aircraft began to sink and impacted rough terrain, seriously injuring all five occupants.

Accident Summary

The pilot waited four hours for the air temperature to cool before taking off with four passengers. The takeoff initially appeared normal. However, while flying over a river at approximately 50 feet above ground level, the aircraft began to sink. It subsequently impacted rough terrain on the far side of the river. The airport elevation was 2,045 feet mean sea level, and the temperature at the time was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. All five occupants—the pilot and four passengers—sustained serious injuries.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause for the accident was inadequate preflight planning and preparation by the pilot in command, deteriorated aircraft climb performance, failure to maintain airspeed, an inadvertent stall or mush, and the condition of the terrain (rough/uneven). The accident sequence began as an in-flight collision with terrain during the takeoff initial climb phase. A second occurrence also involved an in-flight collision with the rough terrain.

Controlled flight into terrain

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