Cessna T303 accident near Bunnell, Florida, April 14, 1986
On April 14, 1986 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna T303, registered N212ER, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 1986 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N212ER · no longer on the register · serial T30300239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT BOTH INSTRUCTOR AND THE STUDENT PILOT NOTED A LEFT BRAKE FAILURE ON TAXI TO TAKEOFF. THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE ASYMMETRIC POWER TO STEER THE AIRCRAFT BUT COULD NOT CONTROL THE TURN. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY AND WENT INTO A DITCH. THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND EMPTY OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE 'O' RING IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED THE FLUID TO ESCAPE TO THE RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEM.
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, 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: 10,236 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 10,036 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1986; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-AE (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Embry Riddle University
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from DAB, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.