Cessna U206-F accident near Live Oak, Florida, June 9, 1992
On June 9, 1992 at about 12:20 pm local time, a Cessna U206-F, registered N8117Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Live Oak, Florida. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL SYSTEM BY THE PILOT/MECHANIC RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF OVER TERRAIN UNSUITABLE FOR A FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISION TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY, AND SUBSEQUENT INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1992 · about 12:20 pm local time
- Place
- Live Oak, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206-F · all U206-Fs on the register
- Registration
- N8117Q · no longer on the register · serial U20603892
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PUBLIC-USE FLIGHT OF THE U206F BY THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF AERIAL SEARCH FOR A MURDER SUSPECT. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TAKE OFF AND AT ABOUT 200 FEET ALTITUDE THE ENGINE WAS HEARD TO QUIT, SURGE, AND QUIT AGAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO TURN STEEPLY BACK TO THE AIRPORT AND STRIKE TREETOPS PRIOR TO COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF FUEL FROM THE NACELLE TANK REVEALED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SAND AND SILICA PARTICLES. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED, PLACED IN A TEST CELL, STARTED, AND PERFORMED ADEQUATELY.
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: 1,400 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Suwannee County Sheriff
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from GNV, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N8117Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.