The US National Transportation Safety Board has issued its report into the August 2004 crash of a Cessna 206 that went down about 110km (60nm) west of Key West, Florida while shooting footage for an independent film Cross Bones. One passenger was killed.
The report says cinematographer Neal Fredericks was tied to the seat with a piece of rope, although a seat belt was available, and drowned in 11m (36ft) of water after impact because other passengers could not free him.
According to the report the crew was filming a fort on an island. As the aircraft approached the area the engine sputtered, and then regained full power. A minute or two later, the pilot indicated the engine lost all power, and after unsuccessfully trying to restart it, he ditched the aircraft.
"The pilot and passengers were all able to exit the aircraft, except the cameraman, who tied himself to the seat with a rope before take-off after the cargo door had been removed to facilitate filming. Attempts to free the cameraman before the aircraft sank were unsuccessful, and he drowned.
A passenger noted that the right fuel tank fuel gauge was around the quarter-full mark, and bouncing as the aircraft flew. Post accident inspection of the aircraft recovered 17 days later from ocean waters, disclosed no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunction. The NTSB report listed as the cause of the accident "a loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during cruise flight, which resulted in the pilot ditching the aircraft in ocean waters".
Source: Flight International
