Cessna P206 accident near Jacksonville, Florida, October 30, 2004
On October 30, 2004 at about 4:06 pm local time, a Cessna P206, registered N2588X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida (Herlong Airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper setting of the elevator trim by the pilot-in-command, his failure to follow the checklist related to elevator trim setting, and his failure to maintain VS during climb after takeoff resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 30, 2004 · about 4:06 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Florida · Herlong Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 4 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna P206 · all P206s on the register
- Registration
- N2588X · no longer on the register · serial P206-0088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot did not perform weight and balance calculations for the accident flight; though, postaccident calculations indicated that the airplane was under gross weight and the center of gravity was within limits. The pilot reported that he did not have any memory of the accident flight. The accident flight was the second flight of the day for the pilot and began immediately after landing from the previous skydive drop flight. The passengers were loaded and the pilot taxied to runway 11 where he began the takeoff. Witnesses and a pilot-rated passenger in the airplane reported that after rotation, the airplane pitched up. The pilot-rated passenger who was seated behind the pilot moved forward and noted the pilot moving the manual elevator trim wheel in the nose-down direction. The airplane was observed to stall, pitch nose down, and collide with terrain. The flaps were extended 20 degrees, and the elevator trim was found set 10 degrees trailing edge tab down, or aircraft nose-up. The maximum elevator trim trailing edge down takeoff setting is 4 degrees. The airplane "Owner's Manual" before takeoff checklist indicates to set the elevator trim to the takeoff setting. The pilot reported that he had performed a takeoff in the accident airplane 2 times previously in which the elevator trim was position full nose-up. During those occasions, he moved the elevator trim to the nose-down direction and continued the takeoff. No evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction was noted to the flight controls for roll, pitch, yaw, or pitch trim. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,603 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,535 as pilot in command; 301 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,413.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 72.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-550-F (9) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHEG Jacksonville FL at 4:06 pm
- Destination: KHEG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KJAX, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 3 | 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.