Cessna TU206F accident near Tavernier, Florida, September 22, 1987
On September 22, 1987 at about 1:43 pm local time, a Cessna TU206F, registered N8741Q, was destroyed in an accident near Tavernier, Florida. It was a personal 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
- September 22, 1987 · about 1:43 pm local time
- Place
- Tavernier, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TU206F · all TU206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8741Q · no longer on the register · serial U20603494
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DITCHED IN THE ATLANTIC ABOUT 40 MI E OF TAVERNIER, FL DURING AN EXTENDED OVERWATER FLT TO GEORGETOWN, BAHAMAS. THE ACFT SANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT & THE PLT & HIS PAX WERE RESCUED BY THE USCG UNHARMED. THE FIXED BASE OPERATOR WHERE THE ACFT DEPARTED, SAID THE PLT HAD ADVISED THAT THE ENG DRIVEN FUEL PUMP WAS INOP & HE WAS DEPENDING ON THE ELECT FUEL PUMP TO SUPPLY FUEL TO THE ENG. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT IS UNKNOWN. THE FLT PLAN WAS CANCELLED SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE. THE PLT STATED THAT ABOUT 35 MINS INTO THE FLT, FUEL PRESS DROPPED, & THE ENG SPUTTERED & LOST POWER. THE FIXED BASE OPER STATED THAT ACFT FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN TOPPED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 540 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 475 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 868 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-540C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTH Marathon FL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Georgetown,Bahm OF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:47 pm from TMB, 80 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.