# NTSB ANC09CA080: Cessna 206, N5110U, Iliamna, AK, August 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2009, 16:45 local (Aug 11, 2009, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Iliamna, AK - Coordinates: 58.416667, -154.78334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.4167&lon=-154.7833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - FSDO3, FAA - FSD03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 74503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff towards an area of rising terrain and potential downdrafts with a fully loaded airplane, which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft that exceeded the airplane's climb capability. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot reported that he was operating his float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91 as part of his guiding business. He said he was departing a remote lake with four passengers after a bear viewing trip, and that he encountered a downdraft during the initial climb. In his report to the NTSB, he wrote: “there was not sufficient lake left to stop and I was unable to climb over the rising terrain.” The airplane struck terrain near the shoreline and came to rest upright. One passenger was seriously injured, and the airplane received substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot reported that he was operating his float-equipped airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91 as part of his guiding business. He said he was departing a remote lake with four passengers after a bear viewing trip, and that he encountered a downdraft during the initial climb. In his report to the NTSB, he wrote: “there was not sufficient lake left to stop and I was unable to climb over the rising terrain.” The airplane struck terrain near the shoreline and came to rest upright. One passenger was seriously injured, and the airplane received substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5110U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5110U), registered now, S/N 2060110, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 206 - Registry model: [Cessna 206](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-206) (registry code 2073302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2060110 - Airframe hours: 6027 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Homer Flyout Adventures LLC - Registered owner: Homer Flyout Adventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 2009, 55 hours before - Departed: 5BL, Homer, AK - Destination: Mirror Lake, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,317 total, 260 in this make and model, 2,149 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 18 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Temperature: 63 °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 20090810025339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090810025339A), Aug 10, 2009: Cessna 206, Homer, AK, Substantial damage. According to the pilot, the aircraft caught a down draft during takeoff from mirror lake and crashed. ## Other investigations on N5110U (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC74AA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74AA056), Feb 17, 1974: Cessna 206 (N5110U), Karluk, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC69A0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69A0066), Jun 24, 1969: Cessna 206 (N5110U), Naknek, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74503. 829 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 806 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.