Cessna 208 accident near Dunnellon, Florida, October 14, 2016
On October 14, 2016 at about 9:35 pm local time, a 1989 Cessna 208, registered N208KM, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dunnellon, Florida (Marion County Airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 10 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The jumpmaster's failure to guard the reserve parachute ripcord, which caused an inadvertent deployment of his reserve parachute.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2016 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Dunnellon, Florida · Marion County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 10 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 208 A, built 1989 · all 208s on the register
- Registration
- N208KM · no longer on the register · serial 20800150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was at 1,250 ft above ground level carrying a load of skydivers. According to a skydiving instructor onboard the airplane, the jumpmaster leaned forward to assist a skydiver in exiting the airplane when the jumpmaster's reserve parachute inadvertently deployed and entered the airplane's slipstream. The jumpmaster attempted to pull the parachute back into the airplane but was pulled into the door frame and dragged out of the airplane. The jumpmaster, who appeared to be unconscious, descended to the ground beneath his streaming (unopened) reserve parachute without deploying his main parachute. The pilot maintained control of the airplane and landed safely. Examination of the jumpmaster's reserve parachute revealed that it was damaged by impact with the door frame, thus it did not deploy properly. It is likely that the jumpmaster failed to guard his reserve parachute ripcord, which was exposed on the front of his parachute, and the ripcord snagged on something as he attempted to assist the exiting skydiver, which caused the reserve parachute to deploy prematurely.
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 enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,761 hours in all; 2,065 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,615 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,336.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 26, 2016; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 12
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-114 (turboprop); 11,336 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X35 Dunnellon FL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: X35 Dunnellon FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from OCF, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 9 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 4, 2018. 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, 22 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record - FAA Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Operator Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Milp T-10 Parachute Diagram | 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.