Cessna U-206FG accident near Jones Beach, New York, September 17, 1983
On September 17, 1983 at about 11:03 pm local time, a Cessna U-206FG, registered N50807, was involved in an accident near Jones Beach, New York (J. F. Kennedy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. 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 17, 1983 · about 11:03 pm local time
- Place
- Jones Beach, New York · J. F. Kennedy
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna U-206FG · all U-206FGs on the register
- Registration
- N50807 · registry record · serial U20601949
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DITCHED IN THE OCEAN ABOUT 4 MILES SE OF JONES BEACH, NY FOLLOWING ENG POWER FAILURE. THE 4 OCCUPANTS DROWNED. THE PLT WAS GOING FROM WASHINGTON,DC TO WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY, THE ACFT WAS LAST REFUELED BEFORE ITS DEPARTURE FROM WESTHAMPTON BEACH ON 9/16 WHEN IT WAS TOPPED OFF WITH 58 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE NEXT MORNING THE FLT DEPARTED FOR WASHINGTON, DC AND ARRIVED THERE AT 1030. NO FUEL WAS REQUESTED OR DELIVERED TO THE ACFT. THE FLT DEPARTED WASHINGTON AT 1737 FOR THE 2 HOUR TRIP WITH 3 HOURS OF FUEL LISTED ABOARD. AN ENROUTE FLT CLEARANCE ROUTED THE ACFT ABOUT 20 MILES FROM THE COAST FOR ATC CONSIDERATIONS. ABOUT 15 MIN LATER THE PILOT REPORTED ERRATIC FUEL INDICATIONS AND REQUESTED DIRECT ROUTING TO ISLIP, NY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 9:37 pm
- Destination: FOK Westhampton NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:06 pm from JFK, 16 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.