Cessna U206F accident near Edgefield, South Carolina, October 24, 2003
On October 24, 2003 at about 1:12 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N3007R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgefield, South Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to follow the checklist to ensure the fuel filler cap was secured resulting in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2003 · about 1:12 pm local time
- Place
- Edgefield, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3007R · registry record · serial U20603225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was in cruise flight when the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing and collided with trees and the ground. The left inboard and outboard fuel caps were installed with a tight seal. Sixteen gallons of fuel was recovered from the left main fuel tank. The right inboard and outboard main fuel caps were not installed. The checklist states, " Fuel Filler Cap- Secure and vent unobstructed." No fuel was recovered from the right main fuel tank. No browning of vegetation or fuel leak was observed at the crash site. A leak test was performed on the left and right fuel tanks and no leaks were observed. Shop air was introduced into the forward and aft pick up lines for the left and right fuel tank positions and no anomalies were noted.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JQF Concord NC at 12:10 pm
- Destination: PFN Panama City FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from AGS, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.