# NTSB ERA23LA385: Cessna T206, N34PL, Port Clinton, OH, September 30, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 30, 2023, 16:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Port Clinton, OH - Coordinates: 41.508993, -83.023902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5090&lon=-83.0239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 193169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA385 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193169/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA385 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to detect and avoid unmarked powerline(s) while attempting to take off from a river. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After takeoff the airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger of the amphibious airplane performed landings at an airport and on a river, performed airwork, then proceeded west, where when near a river, both looked for wires and poles but neither saw any. The pilot landed uneventfully on the river and while on the step he initiated takeoff. Although the pilot was looking and did not see any wires or poles associated with wires that spanned the river, the pilot-rated passenger spotted unmarked powerlines spanning the river immediately before impact with them during the initial climb and called them out to the pilot. The airplane collided with the wire(s), and the airplane pitched down and impacted the river resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, right wing lift strut, and aft empennage. The pilot stated there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34PL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N34PL), registered now, S/N T20608403, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T206 (H) - 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: T20608403 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 1298 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-Aj1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2022, 84 hours before - Destination: TDZ, Millbury, OH - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,090 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 14,045 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 67; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2023; seat: right; flight hours: 16,850 total, 60 in this make and model, 11,695 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KPCW, 7 nm away - METAR: METAR KPCW 302015Z AUTO 07006KT 10SM CLR 23/15 A3026 RMK AO2= ## 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 20230930014269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230930014269A), Sep 30, 2023: Cessna T206H, Port Clinton, OH, Substantial damage. The pilot landed the aircraft into the wind (west to east) on the river and performed a normal take-off continuing east. During the normal take-off ascent the… 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.