# NTSB CHI05CA275: Cessna T206H, N206WK, Sturgeon Bay, WI, September 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 27, 2005, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Sturgeon Bay, WI - Coordinates: 44.843612, -87.421386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8436&lon=-87.4214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Milwaukee, WI FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62575/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA275 ## Probable cause The unexpected wave that the airplane encountered during the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,rough (cause) ## Analysis The amphibian airplane contacted an unexpected wave and sank during the water landing. The pilot stated he flew over the intended landing area which he was very familiar with. He stated the water looked clear so he approached the channel on a downwind leg. He stated he turned base leg over the shoreline and turned onto final approach into the wind. He stated that when he entered the landing flare he looked out his side window to judge his height and he "saw a very large wave" that was in his path. He stated that there was no way to avoid the wave so he added power to try and "catch the top of the wave." However, the floats caught the wave and the airplane was "catapulted" forward into the water. The tip of the right float broke off and the airplane sank nose down in 10 to 12 foot deep water. The pilot reported there was approximately a 6-inch chop of the surface of the water at the time of the landing. He stated he was landing to the southwest and the winds were from the southwest at approximately 12 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 27, 2005, at 1115 central daylight time, a Cessna T206H amphibian, N206WK, sank following a collision with an unexpected wave while landing on the waters of Sturgeon Bay in near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Green Bay-Straubel Airport (GRB), Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 1110. The pilot stated he made two landings near Little Sturgeon Bay while en route to Sturgeon Bay. He stated that once reaching Sturgeon Bay he flew over the intended landing area which he was very familiar with. He stated the water looked clear so he approached the channel on a downwind leg. He stated he turned base leg over the shoreline and turned onto final approach into the wind. He stated that when he entered the landing flare he looked out his side window to judge his height and he "saw a very large wave" that was in his path. He stated that there was no way to avoid the wave so he added power to try and "catch the top of the wave." However, the floats caught the wave and the airplane was "catapulted" forward into the water. The tip of the right float broke off and the airplane sank nose down in 10 to 12 foot deep water. The pilot reported there was approximately a 6-inch chop of the surface of the water at the time of the landing. He stated he was landing to the southwest and the winds were from the southwest at approximately 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N206WK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N206WK), registered now, S/N T20608318, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna T206H - Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T20608318 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brian F. Michaud - Registered owner: Tundra Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: GRB, Green Bay, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 301 total, 165 in this make and model, 148 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050927025969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050927025969A), Sep 27, 2005: Cessna T206H, Sturgeon Bay, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he hit a large wave while attempting water landings digging a float. The aircraft flipped over receiving substantial damage. 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.