# NTSB CEN25LA211: Cessna U206, N932DB, Falun, WI, June 18, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 18, 2025, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Falun, WI · Mud Hen Lake.
- Coordinates: 45.777188, -92.482812 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7772&lon=-92.4828&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA211
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200352/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200352
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA211

## Probable cause

The pilot experiencing the featureless terrain illusion during the approach which gave the perception that the airplane was at a higher altitude over the glassy water surface than it was, resulting in the airplane impacting the water.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); 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)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); 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)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); 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)
- [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)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: visual illusion/disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Cessna U206G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=2073356), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed in the float-equipped airplane to perform three water and three land landings for currency purposes. During the approach to the glassy surface of the rural freshwater lake, the floats impacted the lake. The pilot reported that a “hard impact” occurred, and the float attachment struts were damaged. During the impact, the pilot believed the airplane was between 20 to 25 ft above the glassy surface of the lake. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the cockpit onto a float. The pilot was then picked up by an individual in a nearby boat. Shortly after, the airplane partially sank, and it came to rest inverted in the lake. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by remembering that it is “almost impossible to judge height above glassy water.” The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) discusses various illusions leading to landing errors. The FAA AIM defines the featureless terrain illusion as, “an absence of ground features, as when landing over water, darkened areas, and terrain made featureless by snow, can create the illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N932DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N932DB), registered now, S/N U20605397, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA U206 (G)
- 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: U20605397
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 5587.4
- Engines: Continental Motors IO-520-F25B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2025, 1 hours before
- Departed: RNH, New Richmond, WI
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,214 total, 614 in this make and model, 1,214 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KRZN, 5 nm away
- METAR: KRZN 181855Z AUTO 30003KT 10SM CLR 26/13 A2981 RMK AO2 T02600134

## 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 20250618007079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250618007079A), Jun 18, 2025: Cessna U206G, Siren, WI, Substantial damage. The PIC flew with the intention of becoming current by making 3 land and 3 water landings at various locations. On the first amphibious landing on a lake, the…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200352. 15.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18940845&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N932DB%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18992775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Pilot logbook excerpt (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 10.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18940912&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Cessna U206G pilot's operating handbook excerpt - landing checklist (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18953741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20U206G%20POH%20Excerpt%20-%20Landing%20Checklist-Rel.pdf
- Cessna U206G pilot's operating handbook excerpt - glassy water landing (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18941270&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20U206G%20POH%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf
- Federal aviation administration aeronautical information manual excerpt - illusions leading to landing errors (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18953928&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20AIM%20Excerpt-Rel.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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