What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Airplane N629EK departed from dayton, Ohio on 8 February 2006 and was at an altitude of 16,000 feet. After airplane came under memphis center control the pilot requested to make a 360-degree turn to the left. It was verified by radar that the airplane actually made a turn to the left and then a turn back to its original course. The aircraft did not make a full 360-degree turn. After completing the turn to the left the pilot then requested to make a 360-degree turn to the right. This was also verified by radar that the airplane made a right turn, but not a full 360-degree turn. During the right hand turn the pilot requested to divert to the nearest airport. Memphis center gave the pilot the heading to Henry County Airport at Paris Tennessee and asked the pilot if he was having any problems. The pilot reported that he had "asymmetric fuel." Pilot the requested to "go lower" and memphis center cleared him to 4000 feet. Upon descent the pilot called out "mayday" six times and memphis center lost contact at 1210 local. Memphis center stated that winds were at 5 knots overcast at 10000 feet. VFR conditions prevailed. FAA communication center atlanta stated that one soul was on board and that the flight was a freight flight hauling 314 pounds of auto parts to harlingen, Texas (hrl).
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRPLANE N629EK DEPARTED FROM DAYTON, OHIO ON 8 FEBRUARY 2006 AND WAS AT AN ALTITUDE OF 16,000 FEET. AFTER AIRPLANE CAME UNDER MEMPHIS CENTER CONTROL THE PILOT REQUESTED TO MAKE A 360-DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERIFIED BY RADAR THAT THE AIRPLANE ACTUALLY MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN A TURN BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL COURSE. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT MAKE A FULL 360-DEGREE TURN. AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN TO THE LEFT THE PILOT THEN REQUESTED TO MAKE A 360-DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT. THIS WAS ALSO VERIFIED BY RADAR THAT THE AIRPLANE MADE A RIGHT TURN, BUT NOT A FULL 360-DEGREE TURN. DURING THE RIGHT HAND TURN THE PILOT REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT. MEMPHIS CENTER GAVE THE PILOT THE HEADING TO HENRY COUNTY AIRPORT AT PARIS TENNESSEE AND ASKED THE PILOT IF HE WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD "ASYMMETRIC FUEL." PILOT THE REQUESTED TO "GO LOWER" AND MEMPHIS CENTER CLEARED HIM TO 4000 FEET. UPON DESCENT THE PILOT CALLED OUT "MAYDAY" SIX TIMES AND MEMPHIS CENTER LOST CONTACT AT 1210 LOCAL. MEMPHIS CENTER STATED THAT WINDS WERE AT 5 KNOTS OVERCAST AT 10000 FEET. VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILED. FAA COMMUNICATION CENTER ATLANTA STATED THAT ONE SOUL WAS ON BOARD AND THAT THE FLIGHT WAS A FREIGHT FLIGHT HAULING 314 POUNDS OF AUTO PARTS TO HARLINGEN, TEXAS (HRL).
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.