NTSB Factual Report

On June 2, 2006, at 1334 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T207A, N9962M, settled to the ground in a field following takeoff from Jean Airport, Jean, Nevada. During the ground contact, the firewall buckled and the airplane nosed down. Vegas Extreme Skydiving, Inc., who was also the registered owner of the airplane, was operating it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and six passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was departing from the Jean Airport at the time of the accident for the local area parachute jump flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot stated that just after takeoff, the airspeed decreased to 60 knots and the airplane was 300 feet above ground level. He was unable to recover the airspeed and he force-landed the airplane in a field. During the landing, the firewall buckled. The pilot noted that the temperature was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was from the west at 10 knots and gusting. Following the accident, one of the other parachute jump pilots based at the airport noted that two of the windsocks were pointing different directions. The accident pilot noted that a dust devil passed near the accident site. There were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to obtain and maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall/mush. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude.