Cessna P206 accident near Center Hill, Florida, August 26, 2007
On August 26, 2007 at about 2:22 pm local time, a Cessna P206, registered N904DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Center Hill, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot committed suicide. Contributing to the event was the pilot's impairment due to alcohol.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2007 · about 2:22 pm local time
- Place
- Center Hill, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206 · all P206s on the register
- Registration
- N904DZ · no longer on the register · serial P2060100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A pilot/employee of a skydive business departed with a company airplane before business hours. The pilot's girlfriend alerted local authorities that the pilot had called her at 0400, as he was depressed over their recent breakup. She told officials that he was planning to use a small airplane to attempt suicide. She further stated that he had been drinking and taking medication. Local officials arrived at the airport at 0524 and observed the airplane take off and depart to the southwest. The Civil Air Patrol received an emergency locator transmitter signal at 1022 and located the wreckage at 1530. The disposition of the wreckage was consistent with a high-energy impact. At the conclusion of the airframe and engine examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions were found. Forensic toxicology testing performed on specimens from the pilot detected 270 mg/dL (0.26 percent) ethanol in the blood and 315 mg/dL ethanol in the urine. Toxicology testing was also consistent with recently discontinued use of an antidepressant and the use of a different medication used for seizures, movement disorders, and certain mental conditions.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 441 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,496 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-520A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HEG Jacksonville FL at 9:24 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LEE, 15 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.