# NTSB CHI01LA326: Cessna 208, N12712, Aurora, MN, September 27, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 27, 2001, 09:46 local (14:46 UTC) - Place: Aurora, MN - Coordinates: 47.530597, -92.240905 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5306&lon=-92.2409&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA326 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53521/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA326 ## Probable cause The pilot not maintaining the proper descent rate during the landing. Factors were the flap's popped circuit breaker, the pilot not verifying the flap's position, the glassy water, and the dock. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - lowering of flaps - not verified, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flt control syst,wing flap control - popped/tripped (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The floatplane sustained substantial damage on impact with water and a dock. The pilot and six passengers were uninjured. The pilot stated, "Once I cleared the [obstacles] I put the ignition on, prop full, fuel on both, flaps 20 [degrees] and checked gear up, powered back to get a good rate of descent over [obstacles] so I would not eat up the length of the lake positioning to land. (smooth surface) I came off the prop (as a brake) and began my round out higher than normal as I could feel an unusually high descent rate. In a matter seconds I could tell something was wrong as I rounded out and needed more bank angle to increase my turn rate. As I flared the plane continued to descend and the left float hit the water before I was ready and it hooked the plane immediately left about 45 [degrees] and then the rt float caught and began to slide sideways until we came to rest with the plane's tail up on the shore 90 [degrees] to the lake. ... After a while of sitting there I realized the flaps never came down when I put the handle down. The c/b [circuit breaker] was popped out." A witness stated, "Just as here cleared the shoreline, the plane started to drop and bank hard to the left (or south). For a short time I could not see the plane as it was blocked by the trees on the west bank. When it came back into view it was heading south and practically on the water. It seemed to come up short on the turn, kind of bounced a pontoon off the water or a dock causing the plane to rock. When it rocked back to the left it appeared to hook or dip the left wing into the water or maybe a rock point causing the plane to spin to the left and sideways. It hit the middle dock, which probably slowed it down and came to rest facing back to the east, resting in shallow water leaning to the right, propped up by the right wing." The airplane manual stated, "A standby system can be used to operate the flaps in the event the primary system should malfunction." ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2001, about 0946 central daylight time, a Cessna 208, N12712, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with water and a dock during a hard landing on Wynne Lake, near Aurora, Minnesota. The corporate flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 on an IFR flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and six passengers were uninjured. The floatplane originated its flight from Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota at 0830, and was landing on Wynne Lake at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: I lined up dogleg with the ESE Edge of the lake in order to fly close to the north shore as I touched down. Once I cleared the [obstacles] I put the ignition on, prop full, fuel on both, flaps 20 [degrees] and checked gear up, powered back to get a good rate of descent over [obstacles] so I would not eat up the length of the lake positioning to land. (smooth surface) I came off the prop (as a brake) and began my round out higher than normal as I could feel an unusually high descent rate. In a matter seconds I could tell something was wrong as I rounded out and needed more bank angle to increase my turn rate. As I flared the plane continued to descend and the left float hit the water before I was ready and it hooked the plane immediately left about 45 [degrees] and then the rt float caught and began to slide sideways until we came to rest with the plane's tail up on the shore 90 [degrees] to the lake. I shut everything off, fuel, master, etc and exited my door[.] I opened the pass cabin door and everyone jumped onto the beach, I got their golf clubs out and they went golfing[.] ... After a while of sitting there I realized the flaps never came down when I put the handle down. The c/b [circuit breaker] was popped out. A witness stated: I first saw the plane as it came in just over the trees on the eastern shore. Just as here cleared the shoreline, the plane started to drop and bank hard to the left (or south). For a short time I could not see the plane as it was blocked by the trees on the west bank. When it came back into view it was heading south and practically on the water. It seemed to come up short on the turn, kind of bounced a pontoon off the water or a dock causing the plane to rock. When it rocked back to the left it appeared to hook or dip the left wing into the water or maybe a rock point causing the plane to spin to the left and sideways. It hit the middle dock, which probably slowed it down and came to rest facing back to the east, resting in shallow water leaning to the right, propped up by the right wing. It all happened very fast and I can't be positive of what hit what causing what. A Cessna 208 information manual was reviewed. The manual stated, "A standby system can be used to operate the flaps in the event the primary system should malfunction." The pilots safety recommendation stated, "Possible aural or light indication that a breaker has opened the circuit." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12712](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12712-2003-04-03), registration cancelled 2003-04-03, S/N 20800308, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208 - Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800308 - Airframe hours: 429 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aquanaut LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2001, 60 hours before - Departed: Lake Minnetonka, MN - Destination: Aurora, MN - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 6, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 5,535 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,845 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: EVM, 14 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 20010927025809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010927025809A), Sep 27, 2001: Cessna 208, Aurora, MN, No damage. (-23) The pilot was manuevering near trees and lake while attempting to land on glassy water. The aircraft contacted the water with the left float first, then… 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.