Cessna T206H accident near Cedar Key, Florida, June 7, 2008
On June 7, 2008 at about 4:39 am local time, a Cessna T206H, registered N206GG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Cedar Key, Florida (George T Lewis airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a dark night approach to a coastal airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2008 · about 4:39 am local time
- Place
- Cedar Key, Florida · George T Lewis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T206H · all T206Hs on the register
- Registration
- N206GG · no longer on the register · serial T20608495
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred less than 4 minutes after takeoff in dark night conditions and over open water, as the airplane was maneuvering near the airport. The flight departed about 15 minutes after midnight and the moon was below the horizon. Radar captured the airplane on the upwind, crosswind, and downwind legs for runway 5, reaching an altitude of 900 feet mean sea level (msl). The airplane’s last radar contact indicated a turn to base leg at 600 feet msl, while the airplane was flying toward the ocean. Witnesses at the departure airport observed the airplane on the downwind leg and then lost sight of it as the airplane turned southwest. Shortly after, a bright flash of light was observed in the water just west from their location. Wreckage examination concluded that the airplane was in a 30- to 40-degree left bank and a 5- to 10-degree nose-below-horizon attitude at the time of water impact. There was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane and its systems.
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 visual reference during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Perception › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,370 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 1,316 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 13, 2008; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CDK Cedar Key FL at 4:35 am
- Destination: CDK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 am from CTY, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.