# NTSB ANC03CA114: Cessna 206, N59352, Ketchikan, AK, August 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2003, 19:00 local (Aug 14, 2003, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.366664, -131.733337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.3667&lon=-131.7333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57921 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57921/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, which resulted in an in-flight collision with ocean waves. A factor associated with the accident was large waves/swells. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - large wave/swell (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was departing on an on-demand air taxi flight from a remote saltwater bay in a float-equipped airplane. He reported that just as the floats came on step, the floats contacted a large wave, which bounced the airplane about 15 feet into the air. As the airplane descended, a second wave struck the floats. The operator's maintenance personnel later discovered structural damage to longerons adjacent to the airplane's firewall, which required replacement. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On August 13, 2003, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N59352, sustained substantial damage when the airplane's floats collided with an ocean wave during the takeoff run from Francis Cove, Alaska, a remote saltwater bay about 24 miles north of Ketchikan, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the three passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time, and was en route to Ketchikan, with a planned stop at Fire Cove, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 10, the pilot reported that while departing from Francis Cove, just as the airplane's floats came on step, the floats contacted a large wave, which bounced the airplane about 15 feet into the air. He said that as the airplane descended towards the water, a second wave struck the floats. The pilot said that he was able to continue the takeoff, and proceed to his next planned destination. The pilot reported that after landing at Fire Cove, a postlanding inspection failed to disclose any damage to either the airplane's fuselage or floats. After the flight returned to Ketchikan, and after the airplane was removed from the water at the end of the day, the operator's maintenance personnel discovered minor wrinkling of the forward portions of the fuselage, adjacent to the forward float attach points. A detailed inspection was completed, which revealed structural damage to longerons adjacent to the airplane's firewall, requiring replacement of the longerons. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59352](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59352-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N U20603221 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 206 - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-540-series) (registry code 17051, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20603221 - Engines: Continental IO-520-F 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Clifford S. Kamm, doing business as Seawind Aviation - Registered owner: Clifford S. Kamm - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Ketchikan, AK - Destination: Ketchikan, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 14,500 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 20 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °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 20030813036649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030813036649A), Aug 13, 2003: Cessna U206F, Francis Cove, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) While taking off from Francis Cove with three passengers on board the aircraft struck a swell and was launched about 15 feet into the air. The aircraft… ## Other investigations on N59352 (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 ANC10FA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10FA048), Jun 2, 2010: Cessna U206F (N59352), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to load the airplane well beyond its allowable weight and center of gravity limits, resulting in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the severity of the… 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. --- 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.