Cessna 206G accident near Titusville, Florida, August 9, 2015
On August 9, 2015 at about 2:55 pm local time, a 1964 Cessna 206G, registered N206DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Titusville, Florida (Arthur Dunn Airpark airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's landing with a tailwind at an excessive speed, which resulted in a runway excursion, and collision with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2015 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Titusville, Florida · Arthur Dunn Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 206G, built 1964 · all 206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N206DZ · registry record · serial 206-0185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was conducting a skydiver "jump run", and prior to letting the skydivers out the radio squelch interrupter failed causing a constant static noise. After letting the skydivers out over the airport the pilot set up the descent based on the winds acquired for the previous landing on runway 22. As he circled for landing the manifold pressure indication "dropped off" to zero. The pilot was unsure if he had a partial power loss or a gauge failure. He could not hear or feel the engine indications because of the static noise on the radio squelch and descent profile, so he committed to a power off glide path for his approach. The pilot stated that the airplanes approach speed was about 100 knots prior to the threshold for landing. The airplane touched down beyond the threshold and as the pilot applied full braking the airplane "ballooned" back into the air. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane but was unsuccessful and exited the runway, coming to rest after colliding with a ditch. An examination of the airplane revealed that the empennage and firewall was buckled during the landing sequence. The airplane was equipped with a JPI engine monitor and review of the data did not reveal a loss in engine power during the flight. The wind reported from a nearby weather station revealed that winds were 010 degrees at 6 knots at the time of the accident.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,211 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 1,014 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 16, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,971 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2015; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-F (piston); 5,506 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X21 Titusville FL at 2:35 pm
- Destination: X21 Titusville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,805 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 pm from TTS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on November 19, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airport Incident Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Aircraft Performance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Jpi Engine Data | PDF, 24 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.