Cessna 206, VH-NTT, Buymarr, Northern Territory, on 15 March 2003

Shortly after levelling off at 7500 ft, the engine of the Cessna 206 lost power. After establishing the aircraft in a glide, the pilot broadcast a MAYDAY and went through the emergency checks. As he pulled on the mixture control, it came out of the instrument panel. The pilot pushed it back into the panel and continued with the checks. As the aircraft descended, the pilot noticed an airstrip in a field to his left. After identifying the strip, he notified Flight Watch of his intention to land there.

On final approach, the aircraft undershot and contacted trees at the end of the field. The aircraft touched down on all three wheels in the cleared area just short of the strip, before the left wheel hit a log resulting in the aircraft flipping upside down. The pilot was uninjured and climbed clear of the aircraft through the left door.

An inspection of the aircraft by maintenance engineers found that the mixture cable had failed at its crimped fitting, allowing the mixture control to move to a lean setting. This resulted in the engine shutting down. A major defect report was submitted to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.