# Accident 20031217034379A: Cessna 206H, Sanford, NC, December 17, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 17, 2003, 05:00 local time
- Place: Sanford, NC
- Airport: Sanford-Lee County Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.5864° N, 79.1039° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5864&lon=-79.1039&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9562L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9562L-2006-07-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 206H (registry code 2073301, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-206h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 206H
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL04FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031217034379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AT 0500 ON DECEMBER 17, 2003, A CESSNA 206H DEPARTED SANFORD-LEE COUNTY AIRPORT (TTA) ON AN IFR FLIGHT IN IMC CONDITIONS ENROUTE TO MANTEO, NC (MQI). THERE WERE 4 PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO THE PILOT ABOARD. IMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE AND AN IFR CLEARANCE WAS ISSUED BY RDU ATCT. APPROXIMATELY FIVE (5) MINUTES LATER, THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED WITH THE WRECKAGE COMING TO REST 337 FEET WEST OF RUNWAY 03. THE PILOT WAS KILLED ON IMPACT AND ONE PASSENGER WAS CRITICALLY INJURED. THE REMAINING PASSENGERS RECEIVED RELATIVELY MINOR CUTS, BRUISES AND ABRASIONS. ALL PASSENGER STATEMENTS REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY 03 SHORTLY AFTER 0500 LOCAL TIME. THEY STATED THEY FELT A DIP SIMILAR TO "A ROLLERCOASTER" AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HEARING THUMPS ON THE FUSELAGE FOLLOWED BY IMPACT. METICULOUS FLIGHT PLANNING AND WEIGHT & BALANCE PAPERWORK WAS FOUND IN AND AROUND THE WRECKAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN 100 HOUR AND ANNUAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS WITH ALL AD'S AND BULLETINS COMPLIED. THE VACUUM SYSTEM APPEARED TO BE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE TRIM POSITION (RUDDER AND ELEVATOR) COULD NOT BE RELIABLY DETERMINED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL04FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04FA056), Dec 17, 2003: Cessna 206H (N9562L), Sanford, NC, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during takeoff initial climb due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees and the ground. Factors were the dark night,…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.