# NTSB ANC16LA038: Cessna 206, N6251K, Halibut Cove, AK, July 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2016, 17:53 local (Jul 4, 2016, 01:53 UTC) - Place: Halibut Cove, AK - Coordinates: 59.594444, -151.246948 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.5944&lon=-151.2469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC16LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93527/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93527 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA038 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during an attempted go-around. ## 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 T206H, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was landing an amphibious airplane in the ocean waters of an inland cove. Photographs of the accident sequence showed the water conditions as relatively calm and glassy. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down faster than anticipated and before her intended touchdown point, which subsequently caused the airplane to bounce back into the air. Instead of continuing the landing, she attempted a go-around. As the airplane climbed in a nose-high attitude, she was unable to see over the nose of the airplane and collided with a stand of tall spruce trees. Witnesses stated that after impact, the airplane descended into the water, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2016, about 1753 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N6251K, sustained substantial damage after impacting trees and the tidal ocean waters of Halibut Cove, Alaska, about 11 miles southeast of Homer, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, sustained no injuries. The airplane was registered to Umailik LLC, Anchorage, Alaska and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 visual flight rules personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed the Homer Airport (HOM) about 1742 destined for Halibut Cove. A witness described watching the float-equipped airplane as it approached the inland waters of Halibut Cove, and just after the floats contacted the surface of the water, the airplane immediately became airborne again, and it began to climb. When the airplane reached an altitude of about 40 feet above the water, it started a steep left turn and continued climbing until it struck a stand of tall trees. Following the impact, the airplane descended into the waters of Halibut Cove, where good Samaritans came to the aid of the pilot. An additional witness who was on a tour vessel operating in Halibut Cove at the time of the accident stated that, as the airplane flew towards their tour boat, the airplane subsequently made a slight turn towards the vessel before passing off the right side and impacting trees. The airplane then descended into the water, about 100 feet from the tour boat. Several photographs were captured by witnesses on the tour vessel and provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC). The first two photographs show the airplane about 20 feet above glassy water conditions, in a wings level, flaps extended configuration. The next two photographs show the airplane in a climbing left turn, with a slight water spray trailing from the keel of the left float, followed by a wings level, slightly nose high climb. The airplane's wing flaps remain extended. The last photograph in the sequence shows the airplane impacting a stand of tall spruce tree, which severed the floats, and damaged the left wing's leading edge. At the time of impact with the stand of trees, the airplane's wing flaps appear to be retracted. (An array of accident sequence photos are provided in the NTSB public docket for this accident) In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB, she reported that during the accident landing, she inadvertently touched down faster than anticipated, and prior to her expected touchdown point, which caused the airplane to bounce. She wrote that instead of trying to salvage the landing, she attempted a go-around. Due to a high nose up attitude during the climb-out, she was unable to see in front of the airplane and subsequently impacted a tree. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures that would have precluded normaloperation. According to the NTSB form 6120.1 submitted by the pilot, her last biennial flight review was completed September 15, 2013, in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The closest weather reporting facility was HOM, about 11 miles northwest of the accident site. At 1753, a HOM METAR reported in part, wind from 260° at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots; sky condition, broken clouds at 2,600 ft; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 61°F, dewpoint 48°F; altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6251K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6251K), registered now, S/N T20608832, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 206 - Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-aj1a) (registry code 42004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T20608832 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AJ1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 2016 - Departed: HOM, HOMER, AK - Destination: Halibut Cove, AK - Airport: HOM, Homer - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 15, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 700 total, 670 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: PAHO, 8 nm away ## 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 20160703010399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160703010399A), Jul 3, 2016: Cessna T206H, Halibut Cove, AK, Substantial damage. The single engine sea rated private pilot approached the Cove from the east, intending to land heading west. There is a large island located in the middle of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93527. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454019&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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. --- 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.