Cessna U206F accident near Greenville, Maine, September 14, 2003
On September 14, 2003 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Cessna U206F, registered N755FA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Maine (Horseshoe Pond airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper fuel management by which he failed to position the fuel selector in the proper position and resulted in fuel starvation during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2003 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Maine · Horseshoe Pond · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U206F · all U206Fs on the register
- Registration
- N755FA · no longer on the register · serial U20601830
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was to transport six fishermen from a pond, back to a seaplane base on a lake; which was an approximate 5-minute flight in the Cessna U206F floatplane. Due to weight concerns, the pilot carried limited fuel. After the first group of three fishermen was flown to the seaplane base, the pilot departed solo to pick up the second group of three. He departed with approximately 4 gallons of avgas in the left wing, 10 gallons in the right wing, with the fuel selector positioned to the left tank. After landing on the pond, the pilot forgot to move the fuel selector to the right tank. The last three fishermen boarded with one garbage bag full of empty cans. The pilot then conducted a step turn with 20 degrees of flaps selected, and initiated a takeoff with the fuel selector remaining on the left tank. About 200 feet agl, above all obstacles, the pilot reduced the throttle to 30 inches of manifold pressure. At that time, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The pilot activated the electric fuel pump, positioned the fuel selector to the right tank, and initiated a right turn back toward the pond. As the airplane began to strike trees, the engine regained power, but the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest inverted. After the accident, the pilot stated that he mismanaged the fuel supply.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,900 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days; 7,500 as pilot in command; 1,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 17, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,016.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 11, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Folsom'S Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Greenville ME at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 52B Greenville ME
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from MLT, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.