Quest Aircraft Company LLC KODIAC 100 accident near Georgetown, Florida, February 28, 2018
On February 28, 2018, a 2016 Quest Aircraft Company LLC KODIAC 100, registered N969TB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Georgetown, Florida (Mount Royal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots' spatial disorientation while maneuvering for landing in night conditions over unlighted terrain, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2018
- Place
- Georgetown, Florida · Mount Royal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quest Aircraft Company LLC KODIAC 100 NO SERIES, built 2016
- Registration
- N969TB · no longer on the register · serial 100-0173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot and pilot-rated passenger were returning to the airport in night visual meteorological conditions with a cloud ceiling about 1,500 ft above ground level. Radar data indicated that the airplane overflew the airport and completed a 360° descending right turn and overflew the airport again before entering an approximate 180° left climbing turn toward and over an unlighted area within a densely-wooded national forest. The airplane continued the left turn and entered a descent to impact in a river about 1 mile from the airport. All major components of the airplane were recovered from the river except the outboard section of the left wing and the left aileron. An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Because each of the two pilots onboard would have been capable of safely landing the airplane, it is unlikely that an acute event from either occupant's heart disease contributed to the accident. The night conditions, which included overcast clouds that would have obscured the nearly full moon, and the pilots' maneuvering for landing over an area devoid of cultural lighting provided conditions conducive to the development of spatial disorientation. It is likely that the pilots experienced a "black hole" illusion while maneuvering to align with the runway for landing, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and impact with water.
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 control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of automation › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,165 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 68 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,255 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pegasus Of Montana LLC
The flight
- Destination: 3FL0 Georgetown FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; ovct at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on March 17, 2020. 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 | Witness Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | radar Data Figures | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | radar Data - Tabular | data file | Download |
| 4 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Sun and Moon Data | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Pilot-rated Passenger Toxicological Report | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | NTSB Medical Factual Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 and Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 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.