Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 accident near Deland, Florida, October 3, 2005
On October 3, 2005 at about 7:05 pm local time, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2, registered N7895J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deland, Florida (Deland Municipal airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's incorrect setting of the stabilizer trim and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in a stall. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall. A factor contributing to the severity of the pilot's injuries was his failure to utilize his shoulder harness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2005 · about 7:05 pm local time
- Place
- Deland, Florida · Deland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were seriously injured and 6 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 · all PC-6/B2-H2s on the register
- Registration
- N7895J · no longer on the register · serial 767
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport certificated pilot with 10 skydiving passengers began a takeoff in a tailwheel-equipped and turboprop powered airplane on a CFR Part 91 skydiving flight. As the airplane started its climb, the pitch angle of the nose of the airplane increased until the airplane appeared to stall about 50 to 100 feet agl. It descended and impacted the runway in a left wing, nose low attitude. Several FAA inspectors responded to the accident site and documented the accident scene and the airplane systems. The inspectors reported that flight control continuity was established, and they noted that the stabilizer appeared to be in a nose-up trim position. Measurement of the stabilizer trim position equated to a 56.5 percent nose-up trim condition. The airplane's horizontal stabilizer trim system is electrical. An electric trim indicator, and a trim warning light were installed in the upper left portion of the instrument panel. The light will illuminate if "full-up" trim is set, and the engine is producing over 80 percent power. A placard stating, "Set Correct Trim for Takeoff," was installed on the lower instrument panel in front of the pilot position. The airplane's flight manual contains a "Before Takeoff" warning, which states, in part: "Warning - An extreme out-of-trim stabilizer can, in combination with loading, flaps position and power influence, result in an uncontrollable aircraft after the aircraft leaves the ground." In addition, a caution states, in part: "Caution - Failure to set correct trim settings will result in large control forces and/or unrequested pitching/yawing." Pilot actions listed in the "Before Takeoff" checklist include stabilizer trim settings. The airplane contained seat belts for all passengers, but the pilot's shoulder harness was not used, as it was folded and tie-wrapped near its upper attach point.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,233 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,093 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,517 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 1, 2005; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,173 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skydive Deland, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KDED Deland FL at 7:05 pm
- Runway 05, 3,984 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KDAB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 6 |
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.