Cessna U206G accident near Thonotosassa, Florida, December 18, 2003
On December 18, 2003 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Cessna U206G, registered N603DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thonotosassa, Florida (Lake Thonotosassa 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 pilot's failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing on the water, resulting in a loss of control, and the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2003 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Thonotosassa, Florida · Lake Thonotosassa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206G · all U206Gs on the register
- Registration
- N603DK · registry record · serial U20603574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated that he was outside his home and noted the accident airplane when it approached to land on the lake as he had seen it do several times previously. On this occasion, the witness said that as he continued to watch the airplane throughout the approach and landing flare/touchdown, he noted that the airplane's landing gear was in the down position, extending below the floats. He further stated that as the floats contacted the water during the flare, the airplane immediately nose dived and flipped straight over, coming to rest inverted in the lake. Examination of the airplane and its systems did not reveal the existence of any preaccident anomalies with the airframe, flight controls, or engine.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 221 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2003; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-550-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X16 Tampa FL at 9:35 pm
- Destination: Thonotosassa FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from TPA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.