Cessna U206F N755FA

Summary

On 14 September 2003 at about 16:30 local time, a Cessna U206F registered N755FA, operated by Folsom's Air Service, was involved in an accident near Greenville, Maine, United States. 4 people were on board and 3 died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 2003 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Greenville, Maine, United States

Nearest airport

Horseshoe Pond (NONE)

Coordinates

45.5086, -69.4125

Aircraft

Cessna U206F

Registration

N755FA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Folsom's Air Service

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greenville → Greenville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC03FA197

3 people died.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.