# Accident 20240830015909A: Cessna T206H, Gold Bar, WA, August 30, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 2024, 11:27 local time
- Place: Gold Bar, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.8651° N, 121.6014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8651&lon=-121.6014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N379ME, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N379ME-2025-12-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna T206H (registry code 2073303, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T206H
- Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,714 total, 59 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA303) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240830015909A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT MADE A HARD LANDING ON LAKE ISABEL, THE INTENDED DESTINATION, DUE TO GLASSY WATER CONDITIONS THAT CAUSED POOR PILOT DEPTH PERCEPTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TEN FEET ABOVE THE WATER WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT BOUNCED THE AIRCRAFT BACK INTO THE AIR AND SNAPPED THE FLOAT CROSS-BRACE WIRES. THE PILOT SET THE AIRCRAFT BACK DOWN AND DURING THAT LANDING THE AIRCRAFT FLOAT STRUTS COLLAPSED FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE CROSS-BRACE WIRES SNAPPING DURING THE INITIAL LANDING IMPACT. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE MUCH HIGHER APPROACH SPEED NECESSITATED BY THE EXTREMELY HIGH DENTSITY ALTITUDE ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN A MUCH HIGHER RATE OF DECENT INTO THE LAKE WHILE MAINTAINING A CONSTANT ANGLE OF APPROACH. THIS HIGHER DECENT RATE COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF VISUAL DEPTH PERCEPTION CAUSED BY THE GLASSY WATER RESULTED IN THE INITIAL LANDING BEING MUCH FIRMER THAN ANTICIPATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PADDLED TO SHORE AND SECURED.

## 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 WPR24LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA303), Aug 30, 2024: Cessna T206H (N379ME), Big Bend-Gold Bar, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

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.

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