# NTSB ANC13CA053: Cessna U206G, N77206, King Salmon, AK, May 30, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 30, 2013, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: King Salmon, AK
- Coordinates: 58.554721, -155.773056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.5547&lon=-155.7731&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87083
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87083/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87083
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA053

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate airspeed control during a glassy water landing, which resulted in an excessive sink rate, and a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the float-equipped airplane at a remote lake. He stated that during the initial approach, he noticed the lake was extremely glassy. He set up for a glassy water landing with an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, and a descent rate of 100 to 200 feet per minute. After he crossed the shoreline, he noticed his airspeed had decreased to between 50 and 55 knots, and his rate of descent was more than 200 feet per minute. He added power to correct the condition, but the airplane hit the water hard and bounced. He said that he started to go around, but decided that his angle of attack was too high, and he reduced the power and let the airplane contact the water again. The airplane bounced again, then settled into the water and came to a stop. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing the float-equipped airplane at a remote lake. He stated that during the initial approach, he noticed the lake was extremely glassy. He set up for a glassy water landing with an indicated airspeed of 60 knots, and a descent rate of 100 to 200 feet per minute. After he crossed the shoreline, he noticed his airspeed had decreased to between 50 and 55 knots, and his rate of descent was more than 200 feet per minute. He added power to correct the condition, but the airplane hit the water hard and bounced. He said that he started to go around, but decided that his angle of attack was too high, and he reduced the power and let the airplane contact the water again. The airplane bounced again, then settled into the water and came to a stop. During the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N77206](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77206), registered now, S/N U20603771, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206G
- Registry model: [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g) (registry code 2073356) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: U20603771
- Airframe hours: 2839
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Steller Air
- Registered owner: Venture Alaska LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2013, 54 hours before
- Departed: 5BL, Homer, AK
- Destination: 5Z9, King Salmon, AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 5Z9, Lake Brooks Seaplane, runway 18, water

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 7,764 total, 65 in this make and model, 6,562 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87083. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395402&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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