# NTSB ATL85MA286: Cessna 208, N551CC, Jenkinsburg, GA, September 29, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: September 29, 1985, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Jenkinsburg, GA
- Coordinates: 33.289726, -83.96067 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2897&lon=-83.9607&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 17 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85MA286
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6897/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85MA286

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, company/operator management (cause)
  - fuel system - contamination (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,filter - blocked(partial)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, company/operator management (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - contamination (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - water (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - not engaged (contributing factor)
  - warning system(other) - disabled (contributing factor)
  - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - spiral - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - seat belt - not used, passenger

## Analysis

AS THE PLT & 16 JUMPERS DEPTD ON A SKYDIVING FLT, THE ENG LOST PWR AT APRX 300' AGL. THE ACFT THEN BANKED STEEPLY LEFT, SPIRALED IN A STEEP NOSE DWN ATTITUDE & CRASHED. AN EXAM REVEALED FUEL IN THE TANKS WAS CONTAMINATED WITH WTR & FOREIGN MATERIAL WITH THE APPEARANCE OF BROWN ALGAE. MILKY FLUID (APRX 65% JET FUEL & 34% WTR) WAS FND IN THE ENG FUEL CONTROL, AS WELL AS IRON CONTAMINANTS. DARK STRINGY MATERIAL WAS FND IN THE FUEL FILTERS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED FM 55 GAL DRUMS WHICH CONTAINED CONTAMINATED FUEL. THE DRUMS WERE STORED UPRIGHT & RAIN WATER COULD LEAK THRU THE FILLER CAPS. N551CC HAD A HISTORY OF FUEL CONTAMINATION WHICH ON OCCASIONS CAUSED THE FUEL BYPASS INDICATOR TO DISPLAY. RPRTDLY, THE STALL WARNING CIRCUIT BRKR HAD BEEN DISENGAGED ON OTHER OCCASIONS, SO AS NOT TO STARTLE THE JUMPERS; HOWEVER, DUE TO DMG, ITS PREIMPACT PSN COULD NOT BE VERIFIED. ACFT WAS ESTD TO BE 370 LBS OVR ITS MAX WT LMT & 1' FWD OF THE CG LMT. THE9 PAX SEATS HAD BEEN RMVD TO HAUL UP TO 18 JUMPERS. PAX SEAT BELTS WERE NOT USED. LACK OF FAA SURVEILLANCE WAS NOTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N551CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N551CC-2013-06-13), registration cancelled 2013-06-13, S/N 208-00017, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208
- Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20800017
- Airframe hours: 350
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Skydiving, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 10, 1985, 42 hours before
- Airport: West Wind Sport Parachute, runway 16, 3,170 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,907 total, 4,308 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850929047899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850929047899A), Sep 29, 1985: Cessna 208, Jenkinsburg, GA, Destroyed, 16 fatal. Overgross aircraft stalled and spun during climbout. Fuel was contaminated and aircraft lacked proper restraints.

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.

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