Cessna T206 accident near Natchez, Mississippi, March 27, 2025
On March 27, 2025 at about 6:12 pm local time, a 1999 Cessna T206, registered N27DV, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Natchez, Mississippi (Hardy-Anders Fld/Natchez-Adams airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s improper maintenance, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as the result of a loose fuel line B-nut. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate 100-hour inspection performed after the recent maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2025 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Natchez, Mississippi · Hardy-Anders Fld/Natchez-Adams · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206 H, built 1999 · all T206s on the register
- Registration
- N27DV · registry record · serial T20608111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was about 4 hours and 45 minutes into a survey flight when the engine suddenly lost power. He attempted to troubleshoot and was unable to regain engine power before making an emergency landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a B-nut was loose on the fuel line at the fuel flow divider. When the electric boost pump was turned on during the examination, fuel flowed freely out of the loose connection. Additionally, multiple discrepancies were noted throughout the engine compartment, including (but not limited to): cylinder base nuts that were loose, a cylinder temperature probe that was hanging by its wire, and grommets that were missing or in disrepair along the fuel and oil lines. Maintenance performed about a week before the accident included the removal and replacement of three cylinders and the completion of a 100-hour inspection. It is possible that the mechanic performing the maintenance removed the fuel line to facilitate the cylinder replacement. Regardless of whether or not the mechanic removed the fuel line, the loose B-nut and other discrepancies found in the engine compartment indicate that the 100-hour inspection completed on the same day as the cylinder replacements was inadequate.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › (general) › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › (general) › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 268.2 hours in all; 83.5 in this make and model; 79.6 in the last 90 days; 26.3 in the last 30 days; 212.6 as pilot in command; 3.9 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 11, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 211.3 hours in all; 35.6 in this make and model; 34.2 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 158.5 as pilot in command; 1.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 5, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: unkn
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,234.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero-Graphics, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KMBO Maddison MS at 1:27 pm
- Destination: KHEZ Natchez MS
- Runway 14, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 1:12 pm from KHEZ
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHEZ 271756Z AUTO 17011G15KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP232 T02670122 10267 20178 58006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN25LA165.