Cessna T206H N206GG accident near Cedar Key, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the water during a dark night approach to a coastal airport.

NTSB analysis

The accident occurred less than 4 minutes after takeoff in dark night conditions and over open water, as the airplane was maneuvering near the airport. The flight departed about 15 minutes after midnight and the moon was below the horizon. Radar captured the airplane on the upwind, crosswind, and downwind legs for runway 5, reaching an altitude of 900 feet mean sea level (msl). The airplane’s last radar contact indicated a turn to base leg at 600 feet msl, while the airplane was flying toward the ocean. Witnesses at the departure airport observed the airplane on the downwind leg and then lost sight of it as the airplane turned southwest. Shortly after, a bright flash of light was observed in the water just west from their location. Wreckage examination concluded that the airplane was in a 30- to 40-degree left bank and a 5- to 10-degree nose-below-horizon attitude at the time of water impact. There was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane and its systems.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08FA115 for the full record.