Cessna 208 accident near Riceboro, Georgia, July 29, 2006
On July 29, 2006 at about 7:14 pm local time, a Cessna 208, registered N415GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Riceboro, Georgia. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to achieve the proper takeoff distance on a short water runway resulting in an in-flight collision with a berm and a marshy area on initial takeoff climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2006 · about 7:14 pm local time
- Place
- Riceboro, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N415GA · no longer on the register · serial 20800376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the takeoff area on the lake was 2,200 feet long. He computed the takeoff distance at 1,990 feet. He completed a preflight inspection and engine run up and no anomalies were noted. He water taxied the airplane to the start point and initiated the takeoff by increasing power. The airplane did not rotate at the planned takeoff point so the pilot applied aft pressure on the control yoke. The airplane became airborne and struck a three foot tall berm and collided with the marsh coming to a complete stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that he failed to attain the proper takeoff point resulting in the collision with the berm on initial takeoff climb.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,008 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 4,850 as pilot in command; 490 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 471.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2006; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,360 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-114A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Riceboro GA at 6:54 pm
- Destination: St. Cathrine Is GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSAV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.