Cessna 205 accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico, December 18, 1995
On December 18, 1995, a Cessna 205, registered N8415Z, was destroyed in an accident near Culebra, Puerto Rico. 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
Failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the terrain, while maneuvering at night. Factors relating to the accident were: darkness with no visible horizon, and the pilot's lack of recent experience in night flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 1995
- Place
- Culebra, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N8415Z · no longer on the register · serial 05-0415
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses stated they observed the airplane takeoff at night and fly (depart) over the city until it disappeared from view behind the mountains. The weather was windy with rain about to fall, and the ceiling was about 1,000 feet. The only visible light was over the city. The airplane was located 2 days later. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with the terrain, while in a descending left turn. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot's last recorded night flight was 3 years 9 months before the accident.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 762 hours in all; 315 in this make and model; 762 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1992; 451 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-470-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPX PR
- Destination: SIG Isla Granda PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from TJN, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.